A 27-year-old man is facing charges after allegedly smashing into several cars -- including police cars -- during a wild drive from his grandmother's house in New Jersey to the nearby police station, and back to his grandmother's, police say.
James Wnek, who arrived from Arizona several days ago to stay with his grandmother in Linden, took off in an SUV from her house Tuesday afternoon, immediately crashing into her empty car as he drove off, police said.
He headed to the police station a few blocks away, entering the garage through the exit and driving the wrong way up the ramp, according to police.
Wnek smashed into the police garage entrance, and when officers ran out to check out the commotion, he proceeded out of the garage and careened his way back to his grandmother's.
That's where he smashed into a police car stationed outside the house and jumped out of the car, police say and video shows. He jumped across his neighbor's fence and ran through the lawn before finally being apprehended and taken into custody.
That neighbor watched the takedown from his front steps.
"He jumped out of his vehicle, over my fence,' said Pat Cerra. "They all had guns pointed at him, right here."
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Remarkably, no civilian was hurt in the entire ordeal, even as the school nearby had just let out.
"I'm glad he didn't come down our street because there are a lot of children out playing," said neighbor Deborah Barto.
Two officers were mildly injured when Wnek deployed pepper spray on them while he was being taken into custody, police said. Three cars were hit, including the police car at the station, a civilian SUV and the police car parked outside the man's grandmother's house.
A motive wasn't clear, and police couldn't immediately speak to his mental state.
Wnek's grandmother said he is a "nice boy."
"Two years, I didn't see him," she said. "He come to see me because I was old and tired and he wanted to see the grandma."
Wnek is currently being evaluated at a local hospital and will face charges, police said.
