CAPE MAY – A Gloucester Township man was arrested without incident on a city beach on Wednesday, July 31. Brandon J. Rollans, 25, of Blackwood, had earlier been involved in a pedestrian motor vehicle crash where he fled the scene. Details of the incident were reported to City Council by Police Chief Dekon Fashaw at the Aug. 6 council meeting.

According to Fashaw, the victim of the pedestrian accident did not suffer life-threatening injuries. Fashaw added that Rollans aimed the vehicle at his own father.

Fashaw said that Patrolman Alex Pruszinski of the Cape May Police Department noticed an extensively damaged vehicle traveling in the area of Lafayette Street and Sidney Avenue. The driver of the vehicle, Rollans, ignored an attempted motor vehicle stop and eventually abandoned the vehicle at the intersection of Beach Avenue and Ocean Street where he moved through the dunes to the beach.

Fashaw praised Pruszinski for following department policy by not engaging in a pursuit on crowded city streets.

With the help of lifeguards and a police drone, Rollans was located on the beach and taken into custody. The use of the drone to locate Rollans’ specific location lowered the potential for harm to others on the beach.

Rollans was lodged at the Cape May County Correctional Center and charged with several criminal and motor vehicles offenses, including two counts of second-degree eluding police.

In the same report to council, Fashaw also detailed the arrest of a fugitive from Virginia who was wanted for assault. The individual, whose name was not released, was working at the Cape May Elementary School as a roofer. Details on this arrest have not been released.

Fashaw did say that assisting in the arrest were officers from the U.S. Marshal’s Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the State Police. Fashaw said the drone was used in connection with the fugitive arrest as well.

Lastly Fashaw told the council that his department has partnered with Lower Township Police to deal with increasing violations of low-speed vehicle laws. He said the department has issued 300 summons.

The department’s Facebook page reminds all LSV operators, renters and owners that the laws governing LSV use are the same in both municipalities. The post also urges LSV users to be mindful of speed limits for the vehicles, currently 25 mph, and to stay on roads that are 25 mph or less.

The post notes that both municipalities have seen an increase in LSV use and warns that the roads connecting Lower Township and Cape Island “are not sufficient for LSVs.”

Fashaw’s report to council came as he and his department were preparing for National Night Out, which began later in the day.

Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.