High-Speed Carjacking Pursuit Throws Owner Off Roof; Vehicle Recovered

NORTH CAPE MAY – When officers saw two vehicles speed out of a Wawa on Bayshore Road, in North Cape May, they pursued them, but the speeding vehicles led to much more than a speeding ticket.
As officers pursued the two vehicles around 10:45 p.m. June 20, it became apparent that the first vehicle had a man clinging to the roof, according to a June 30 Lower Township police release. The second vehicle managed to pass in front of the first and attempted to block it at the intersection of Bayshore and Fishing Creek roads.
The barricade was unsuccessful; the first car rammed the other and continued north along Bayshore Road.
As the pursuit unfolded, officers were informed that the county dispatch center had received calls of a stolen motor vehicle. Police later learned that the stolen vehicle was owned by the man hanging onto the roof.
Officer Kevin Boyle Jr. kept in pursuit, with his lights and siren on. At times, the stolen car drove at speeds in excess of 90 mph, even as its owner clung to the roof, per the release.
Police said the driver of the stolen vehicle was actively attempting to launch the pedestrian from the vehicle by aggressively swerving the vehicle across both lanes of traffic.   
The stolen vehicle turned at Fulling Mill Road, throwing the owner off the vehicle. Officers suspended their pursuit to render medical aid to the owner. He told police he was attempting to stop the theft of his car. Police did not say if the owner of the vehicle was injured during the incident.
Police were given a description of the suspect and vehicle, which was observed traveling north onto the Garden State Parkway out of Lower Township by other patrol officers.   
After an investigation, the police identified the suspect as Woodrow Gibson, 19, of East Orange. A warrant was issued for Gibson for carjacking, robbery, aggravated assault, eluding police, aggravated assault while eluding police, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, theft of means of conveyance, theft of movable property, and assault by automobile.
The vehicle was found in Camden and returned to the owner. Gibson was arrested on unrelated charges in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania. He is currently being held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility pending extradition to New Jersey.
Lower Township Police Department, in its release, reminded the public not to leave vehicles running and unattended and not to leave keys inside a vehicle.
Any charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless he is proven guilty.