Newark, N.J. – Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced today that a jury has convicted Moa Mengesha, 43, of South Orange, of two counts of second-degree eluding police.
Assistant Prosecutor Gianna Sanguinetti and Assistant Prosecutor Kathryn Zangari tried the case before the Honorable Judge Lori Grifa, J.S.C. The defendant represented himself at trial.
The charges stem from two separate incidents in South Orange during which the defendant was observed operating a motor vehicle with a fictious license plate displaying the word “Traveler.”
On August 22, 2024, South Orange police officers attempted to stop the defendant while he was driving on Irvington Avenue. The defendant initially stopped his vehicle. When officers discovered that the vehicle was not registered and asked him to turn the vehicle off, the defendant instead placed the vehicle in drive and sped away. At the time, two officers had their hands on the vehicle and could have been dragged as a result of his actions.
On September 2, 2024, police officers again attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop on South Orange Avenue and Sloan Street. Surveillance video shows the defendant making a K-turn to avoid striking an officer. In doing so, the defendant drove onto a curb and then onto a sidewalk. The defendant then ran a red light into a busy intersection with oncoming traffic, causing another vehicle to swerve to avoid a collision. He then ran through a second red light, driving around a vehicle that was stopped.
“Eluding poses a serious threat not only to law enforcement, but to other motorists, pedestrians, and the community at large. We are pleased with the verdict, and thank the officers involved for their assistance in this investigation,” said Assistant Prosecutor Gianna Sanguinetti.
Assistant Prosecutor Kathryn Zangari added, “This verdict sends a clear message that individuals who flee from police will be held accountable for their actions and that protecting the public remains a top priority”
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office thanks the South Orange Police Department for its assistance in this investigation.
Mengesha is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2026.
The public is encouraged to report any information related to criminal activity by contacting the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. All calls will remain confidential.
