Array of Charges Face Md. Man in Ferry DWI Incident

NORTH CAPE MAY — On June 25 at approximately 6:05 p.m., Delaware River and Bay Authority Police Officer Brian Austin was advised by a passenger on the M.V. “Twin Capes,” which had just docked at the ferry terminal here, that a male driver was about to leave the ferry, who was operating a gray 2003, Mercedes Benz, with Maryland license plates, may be intoxicated.
According to a release, as the vehicle exited the ferry ramp onto the terminal parking lot, Austin approached the vehicle and instructed the driver, identified as Joel A. Colley, 27, of Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, Md., to turn off the ignition of the vehicle.
Colley refused to do so.
At that time Austin reached into the vehicle to turn off the vehicle’s ignition. Colley then accelerated at a high rate of speed through the terminal parking lot at which time Colley’s vehicle struck Austin in the arm.
DRBA police then broadcasted a description of the suspect’s vehicle to Lower Township police.
Lower Township police then received several 9-1-1 calls regarding an erratic driver on Pilgrim Boulevard that had ran through several stop signs and nearly struck a child in the street.
Colley then ran his vehicle across the front lawn of 1600 Washington Boulevard causing extensive damage to the lawn. He then went around Pilgrim Circle against traffic and struck the curb several times.
Colley then drove his vehicle across Mayflower Circle causing his vehicle to go airborne before crashing into a parked car at 1603 Washington Blvd.
All of the Mercedes’ air bags deployed from the force of the collision and the vehicle had several flat tires.
Witnesses then observed Colley exit his vehicle and flee the area on foot.
Cpl. William Priole, of the Lower Township Police Department, then located Colley at Englewood and the bay where he was arrested without further incident.
DRBA Police and the Lower Township Police departments conducted a joint investigation into the incident.
As a result of that investigation, Colley was charged with:
Two counts of reckless driving
Three counts of careless driving
Disregarding a stop sign
Leaving the scene of an accident
Failure to report an accident
Driving while intoxicated
Refusal to submit to a breath test
Aggravated assault with a motor vehicle
Assault, causing injury while attempting to elude a law enforcement officer
Recklessly eluding police after being told to bring his vehicle to a stop.
Austin was treated at the scene by Lower Township Rescue Squad for an injury to his elbow.
Colley was lodged in the county jail on $50,000 bail.
“We were extremely lucky that no other police officers or innocent civilians were severely injured in this incident, due to Mr. Golley’s total disregard for public safety,” stated Lower Township Police Chief, Edward Donohue.
He also thanked the Delaware River & Bay Authority Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.
The case was investigated by Delaware River & Bay Authority Sgt. Thomas Quigg, DRBA Police Officer Brian Austin, and Lower Township Police Officers, Cpl. William Priole, Sgt. First Class William Hienkel and Patrol Officer Michael Szemcsak.