Two Charged in Chase, Head-On Crash With Port Authority Police Car

Two New York men were charged in connection with a high-speed chase that started on the George Washington Bridge and ended in a head-on crash with a Port Authority police car on Lemoine Avenue, authorities said Thursday night.

Joseph W. Powers, 28, of Suffern, and his passenger, Edward Ceus, 28, of Spring Valley, were charged with aggravated assault and eluding police, according to Port Authority police spokesman Al Della Fave.

At about 5 p.m. Thursday, a Port Authority police officer tried to pull over a speeding maroon Acura traveling westbound on the bridge, but when the driver — Powers — allegedly refused to comply, the officer pulled alongside the car “to make sure that [Powers] saw him and was aware that he wanted him to stop,” Della Fave said.

Powers then allegedly swerved into the Port Authority police vehicle and continued into Fort Lee, he said. The officer called ahead for assistance from other Port Authority units, Della Fave said.

“Another Port Authority police unit was coming northbound on Lemoine Avenue as the suspect was coming south," he said.

"But he didn’t stop; he drove straight into the front of the Port Authority police vehicle," Della Fave said.

The Port Authority police officer involved in the head-on crash was taken to Englewood Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Della Fave said.

Powers and Ceus were also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, after hypodermic needles were found in their car, Della Fave said.

As of Thursday night, the men were still being processed and questioned at the George Washington Bridge Administration Building in Fort Lee.

Della Fave said additional charges could be filed after a thorough search of the car.