By: Richard L. Smith
Image: WABCNY-7
A Keansburg man with a prior aggravated manslaughter conviction stemming from the 2012 killing of a Middletown woman is facing new charges after authorities said he fled police and caused a head-on crash that critically injured three people, including a 3-month-old baby.
According to information released by Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Linden Police Chief David Hart, Darryl Petlock, 48, was arrested Monday, October 5, and charged with two counts of second-degree eluding, five counts of second-degree aggravated assault while eluding and three counts of fourth-degree assault by auto.
Authorities said that at approximately 2:45 p.m., Linden Police officers were alerted to a Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling at a high rate of speed on East Linden Avenue.
Officers responding to the area reportedly observed the Jeep traveling at high speed and entering oncoming traffic while attempting to get around a pickup truck.
The maneuver ultimately resulted in a head-on collision with a Honda Civic occupied by a 33-year-old woman, a 29-year-old man and a 3-month-old baby, officials said.
All three occupants of the Honda were transported to an area hospital with critical injuries.
Petlock was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital.
Petlock has a significant criminal history. In September 2012, he was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated arson in connection with the death of 40-year-old Lynn A. Moretti in North Middletown. Moretti was found dead inside her Jersey Avenue home after firefighters extinguished a deliberately set fire.
Contemporary reports identified Petlock as Darryl E. Petlock, also known as Isa Maajid.
Petlock was apprehended in Brunswick, Georgia, days after the killing and was later returned to New Jersey.
He ultimately pleaded guilty in state court to aggravated manslaughter, a conviction later referenced by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in proceedings involving the revocation of his federal supervised release.
The circumstances surrounding Monday’s collision remain under investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Union County Prosecutor’s Office Special Prosecutions Unit Detective Grace Proetta at 908-358-7932 or Sergeant Craig Famoso at 908-578-1036.