A Toms River man who led police on a wild goose chase after fleeing a traffic stop in Howell Tuesday is charged with eluding and hindering apprehension.

Howell Police say John McKenna, 43, was doing 70-mph on the Route 9 shoulder in a 2008 Dodge Avenger before he was pulled over around 12:45 pm.

He then took off as a patrolman approached his car.

The chase reached Lakewood where McKenna turned west onto County Line Road.

McKenna got out and ran towards Forest Avenue, hopped in another car on 8th Street and was eventually arrested along with the driver of that car, 43-year-old Dina Gagen (McKenna's girlfriend), who lives in Brick.

McKenna was allegedly hiding in the backseat at the time.

A large scale search was conducted with the assistance of Lakewood Police and Georgian Court University Security while all this was going on due to the proximity of the campus to the McKenna's last known location.

He is charged by Howell Police with 2nd degree eluding police (2C:29-2(b)) and 34th degree hindering apprehension (2C:29-3b(2)).

McKenna was also driving with an expired registration and inoperable brake light in the area of Route 9 South/Estelle Lane, which is why he was being pulled over.

Police learned he also had an outstanding arrest warrant from Nutley.

McKenna was brought to the Monmouth County Correctional Institute and issued several motor vehicle citations including driving while suspended and reckless driving.

Gagen is charged with 4th degree obstructing administration of law (2C:291a) and 4th degree hindering apprehension.

She was released on a criminal summons pending court.

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