Police Pursuit Ends with Hopatcong Councilwoman's Arrest

A Hopatcong councilwoman was arrested and charged with criminal resisting arrest and eluding an officer following a slow speed police pursuit Tuesday afternoon, Netcong Police said.

According to Police Chief James Blesson, his patrols responded to a call from the Netcong ShopRite about a woman who was removing items from the store without paying.    

When the officers arrived, they attempted to pull over 79-year-old Estelle Klein but she did not yield to the officers attempts to stop her, Blesson said.

“She essentially led them on a slow speed pursuit,” Blesson said. “They tried to stop her, and she ended up leading them through the Landing section of Roxbury Township.”

Blesson said once Klein stopped at the intersection of Landing Road and Center Street she refused to comply with the commands of the officers.

“She refused to get out of the car, she refused to be arrested,” Blesson said.

Blesson said that officers from Roxbury and Mt. Arlington were there to assist and that Klein was “combative” with the arresting officers on the scene.

Klein had $40.34 cents of merchandise on her front seat that she did not pay for, Blesson said.

“And that included items like filet mignon, guacamole and roast beef,” Blesson said.

With no one to drive her car out of the intersection it was impounded and her dog, who was with her in the car, was seized by animal control, Blesson said.

Besides the two criminal charges Klein faces six motor vehicle violations that include failure to maintain lane, speeding, reckless driving, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, Blesson said.

Klein was also charged with shoplifting, Blesson said.