Lakewood man crashes into Canadian border hours after fleeing Howell Police

A Lakewood man, who claimed to have murdered his parents and then fled up Route 9 into Howell where police pursued him, has been arrested in Canada after fleeing the United States and crashing into the northern border.

Howell Police said a patrolman tried to stop 41-year old Josef Bartol around 10:45 pm on December 31 after seeing him drive erratically along Route 9.

The officer activated his lights and pursued Bartol believing he was intoxicated and posed a threat to other motorists on the road.

The pursuit, which ran through Freeholder, Manalapan, Marlboro, Old Bridge and Sayreville was ended near mile marker 125 when the officers siren stopped working around 11:05 pm.

HPD said that state policy states the siren must be activated during the pursuit.

Police then filed criminal and motor vehicle complaints against Bartol and he was entered as wanted into the national police database.

As the new year rang in for 2021, Howell Police received a call from Canadian authorities and U.S. Customs and Border Protection saying that they had Bartol in custody after he drove through the Canadian border and then fled on foot into Canada.

Bartol is now in Canadian custody.

Canadian authorities told Howell Police that he claimed to have murdered his parents and that they believe there's a mental health issue with Bartol.

Howell Police said "this is not believed to be true as Lakewood checked the residence."

Bartol is expected to be turned over to U.S. C.B.P.

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