PA COP SHOOTS HUDSON MAN; INCIDENT FOLLOWS CHASE IN TUNNEL

By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Saturday, August 3, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | Two Star B | NEWS | Page A03

A 26-year-old North Bergen man was reported in critical condition following surgery Friday for a gunshot wound suffered in a police chase that ended in the Lincoln Tunnel, authorities said.
Authorities said Brian T. Powers of 7110 Madison St. was shot in the head when he drove his pickup truck toward a police officer after leading police on a chase through the tunnel from Manhattan. The chase and the ensuing gunfire caused the tunnel’s center tube to be closed to westbound traffic from 11 p.m. Thursday until 4:30 a.m. Friday, said D. Joy Faber, a Port Authority spokeswoman.
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office will charge Powers with several offenses, including aggravated assault on a police officer, assault, eluding police, and reckless endangerment, Faber said.
The incident began at about 10:45 p.m. Thursday when a Manhattan patrolman observed Powers, driving a 1989 Ford pickup truck, run a red light at 23rd Street and 11th Avenue and then drive along the sidewalk, Faber said.
Powers did not heed the patrolman’s signal that he pull over and was pursued by marked and unmarked New York City police cars as well as a car of the New York Transit Authority police, the spokeswoman said. Powers went onto Roadway A, into the westbound center tube of the tunnel, striking as many as six cars during the chase, Faber said.
Manhattan police got out of their cars and ran toward Powers after a bus driver ahead of the chase angled his vehicle across the roadway to block Powers path. Port Authority Police Officer Joseph Audino fired four shots, one of which struck Powers as he gunned his truck toward the officer, Faber said.
Powers was being treated at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in Manhattan. Audino, a 12-year veteran, and another Port Authority police officer were taken to St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in Manhattan for observation and were released, Faber said.

Keywords: NORTH BERGEN; SHOOTING; TUNNEL; POLICE

ID: 17351417 | Copyright © 1991, The Record (New Jersey)


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