Clifton police shoot woman following car chase

Clifton police shot an unidentified woman tonight in Passaic after she led them on a chase and tried to run down officers, authorities said. via NJ.com

[Not the 1st time]

03/16/07 Garfield man shot by police
Posted by Russell Ben-Ali June 04, 2007 9:07PM
Categories: News, Passaic County
The sister of a Garfield man shot six times after failing to stop at a police checkpoint says her brother is learning-disabled and may have misunderstood the purpose of the stop.
John Kubasta, 42, remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson after being shot late Sunday on Route 19 in Clifton.
Authorities said Kubasta failed to stop at a seatbelt enforcement checkpoint in Garfield shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday.
Garfield police pursued his car into Clifton, where Clifton police joined the chase and ultimately shot the driver, Bill Maer, a spokesman for the Passaic County Sheriff's Department, said tonight. No police officers were hurt, although several were taken to a hospital and evaluated, he said.
Passaic County Prosecutor James F. Avigliano told the Herald-News that Clifton police stopped Kubasta's vehicle on Route 19 and Broad Street in Clifton and approached it. Kubasta then put his car into reverse and rammed one of their police cruisers, Avigliano said.
At that point Clifton police fired between nine and 12 rounds at Kubasta's car, hitting him six times in the torso, the prosecutor told the newspaper. Kubasta, critically wounded, then drove the wrong way on Route 19 for a half-mile before stopping, Avigliano said.
He was taken to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center. As of last night, authorities said he had not been charged with any crime.
His sister, Michele Verity, 39, of Great Falls, Va., told The Star-Ledger this evening that her parents were visiting her in Virginia when they received a phone call from Garfield police, saying their son had been in an accident. They did not provide any details, she said.

[speed]

Not the first do you really want to start this forum again. Lets see this is a 42 year old man who passed his drivers test and didnt know to stop for a red blinking light? He was confused? What is so confusing about a red blinking light? What didnt he understand about it? Wasnt it one of the questions on the written test or does his family feel because they are claiming he has a mental deficiency it is ok to keep driving on. Garfields dispatcher called in an alert on him going into Clifton because they had no control over this middle aged man and his vehicle. Police officers were hurt that night. Injuries don't always show up as broken bones. If he was so helpless why were his parents away in another state. He almost killed 3 other people that night in another car. Thank goodness Clifton was able to stop him. If he kept driving it could of been 4 people dead that night due to the Clifton Police Department.

[Garfield]

If you knew the family the answer would be clear. We have seen and heard stories about Kubasta's past which by the way is very simular to Michel"l"e's past. If you two noticed I decided not have fun with the x-tra L to break ba__s. It is usually a person with a handicap no matter how slight who will be abused into submission and as the years go by draw back from anything social. From what was read it also happened to this Clifton woman. But the facts still stand and can not sway when it comes to knowing right from wrong and also doing the right thing. Both knew what they did was wrong. Families try to hide things going on. I myself was shocked to find out about Kubasta's Grandmother's past history and arrest record. My family even was questioning it but it was true and she was someone you never of guessed would of wanted to live that life style. The truth prevails.

[speed]

The bottom line is he should of never been driving. According to his family he doesn't understand right from wrong. If that is true maybe his family should be put up on charges.

[moved]

Oh my...the forums keep coming one after the other. You are right Garfield families do try to hide things for a long time...I can attest to that. Oh yea...remember payton place? It'll be called Payton Garfield. Every forum since I got back has threes in them...amazing.

[Player]

To whoever thinks the cops had the right to shoot that person should read the saying on the police cars. TO PROTECT AND SERVE. THAT SHOULD SAY IT ALL. Cops should be required to take a few different tests every couple of years to see if their fit to be on the force. I dont they would have shot her if she was married to a cop.

[moved]

The police did their job. I rather have one person stopped (no matter how) from harming society then have this one person come and harm me or someone I love.

[moved]

Opps it's back.....

[The baltimore critic]

In reply to the baltimore critic, dated Dec. 18, 2007, I can definetly see that he has no relationship to cops; family or friends. He's probable had a bad experience with a cop who was doing their job as an enforcer. No person who clearly understands police work would make that kind of judgement.( poor soul). Read between the lines idiot. "To protect and Serve" if you don't understand, its much more than just responding to bank robberies and getting kittens out of trees.

[speed]

In the Clifton Police Hiring Blog you will find that the family does have relationships and friends as police officers. Unfortunately the family feels because they know people they are above the law and do not have to obey it. Simple as that. It is simply unbelievable how they tried to get out of it by insisting he has a mental deficiency. In court it was proven that he doesn't. Then rumor has it that they hired a lawyer who hasn't lost a case in 30 years. In the mean time this lawyer tried to prove thru all kinds of different records from his past schooling that he is on the retarded side. He was not able to prove it because it is not true. The things a family will do to try and look like they are right.

[to Garfield]

What kind of past are you talking ab?

[moved]

Oh My....Dear Garfield....Beware-----Sterlin g, Va would like to call the 'Feds' on you and are waiting to 'push you' so you'd screw up......of course only with THE TRUTH. BUT BEWARE!!!! From what I heard they tried it with someone else but this someone is still waiting to hear..... I too know the answer VA but why not ask and get the answer rigt from the 'horses mouth'.,.,..Amusing....Ohhhhhh h SHAME ON VA.....
Off this subject for a minute....You know sometimes people are different...maybe a bit unusual but that doesn't make them retarded. Yes sometimes kids are in special education all because they are different and maybe have ADD and have a hard time sitting still, etc. But...that doesn't make the 'dumb or stupid' to the point that they do not understand right from wrong. In time they out-grow it and function very well in society. Gotta....go....

[moved]

Let's all move to Garfield.....Yea....Lots of unstables driving there,...at east according to some people....Yeaaaaa