Flight to freedom short-lived, say Lacey Township police

A police pullover in Lacey Township that erupted into a car chase Monday afternoon lands two Ocean County women in trouble with several police departments.

At the end of the road - figuratively speaking - Jennifer Whalen, 34, of Toms River, was charged with a second-degree count of eluding and placed in the Ocean County Jail with bail set at $50,000.

Her passenger, Brittany Bodzak, 30, of Forked River, was turned over to Atlantic City police to answer a no-bail warrant.

Lacey Township Police said that Whalen was behind the wheel at 5:41 PM on West Lacey Road when Officer Brian Holt intiated the motor vehicle stop in the Wawa lot alongside.

While Holt went about his business, Whalen peeled out onto Lacey Road and Bodzak leaped from the car, police said.

With Holt in pursuit, lights flashing and siren blaring, Whalen reportedly zipped along Lacey Road, through a red signal at Newark Avenue and onto the Garden State Parkway headed north.

The patrolman notified police in surrounding agencies and obtained a $5,000 arrest warrant for Whalen. Toms River police found her at her Bellflower Court house.

Bodzak turned herself in. Police said she's also the subject of a $250 warrant in Manchester.