Man with stab wounds leads police on chase BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer SAYREVILLE - A South Amboy man led police on a car chase over Victory Bridge after he was reportedly stabbed outside a local bar last week, police said. Police reportedly observed the man, later identified as Thomas Smith, 22, of South Amboy, speeding through a red light on Routes 9 and 35 near the South Amboy border at 9:16 p.m. March 24. Patrolmen Jason Mader and David Wilkins of the Sayreville Police Department were on patrol in an unmarked police vehicle when they spotted Smith's vehicle and attempted to pull it over. Smith reportedly ignored the police lights and sirens, and the patrolmen followed him as he traveled at speeds up to about 70 mph, according to the police report of the incident. Traffic levels on the road were moderate as police pursued Smith over Victory Bridge and into Perth Amboy. Police said Smith was driving in a reckless manner, failing to stop at red lights, and veering toward oncoming traffic on one occasion. Smith eventually turned right onto Lawrie Street and stopped his vehicle across from the emergency area at Raritan Bay Medical Center. The patrolmen exited their vehicle and drew their weapons as Smith opened the door of his vehicle. Smith, who was not wearing a shirt, reportedly had a large amount of blood on both hands and around his neck area. Mader and Wilkins ordered Smith at gunpoint several times to drop to the ground on his stomach with his hands to his sides. When Smith complied, he reportedly yelled that he had been stabbed in the neck several times and he did not want to die. One of the cuts to Smith's throat area was covered by two Band-Aids, according to Mader's report. Mader also reported that the stabbing may have occurred outside of a bar on Cedar Street in South Amboy. Smith told police that a suspect whom he knew by first name had stabbed him and robbed him of approximately $100. The officers recovered a folding knife that was covered in blood from the victim's left pocket, according to police, who did not say whether that was the weapon used to cause his injuries. Emergency staff at the hospital provided Smith with medical attention. South Amboy police took over the investigation, but charges against Smith related to eluding an officer were pending from Sayreville police.