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A 40-year-old man was arrested Wednesday after leading police on a chase that began in front of the Wayne Street park in Downtown Jersey City, cops say.

(Google Maps image)

An alleged drug dealer's getaway from police went awry when he crashed his car into a snowbank in Downtown Jersey City this week, authorities said.

Pablo Figueroa, 40, of Merseles Street in Jersey City, was arrested Wednesday and charged with drug offenses, eluding police and resisting arrest after crashing the vehicle on Montgomery Street just west of the Turnpike overpass, according to a police report.

Police responded to the Wayne Street park between Barrow Street and Jersey Avenue around 4:45 p.m. on the report of men congregating around a double-parked Toyota. Police say the area "has been plagued with citizen complaints of open air drug usage and dealing."

When the officers arrived, they observed two men inside the double-parked vehicle, as well as two others walking toward it. Police noted that one of the men -- later identified as Figueroa -- was holding what appeared to be heroin, the report states.

When Figueroa saw the officers he ran to a blue Dodge Stratus that was double-parked in front of the Toyota and got into the driver's seat. Police ordered him to stop, but he took off in the vehicle at a high rate of speed, blowing through two stop signs before turning south on Grove Street, cops said.

The three other men were detained and eventually released, while Figueroa fled from police. Police quickly came upon the Dodge sedan after it crashed into a snowbank of Montgomery Street. Figueroa got out of the vehicle and took off on foot, but was apprehended by Street Crimes officers, the report states.

When officers got out of their unmarked car to pursue Figueroa, their vehicle caught fire, Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said. It's unclear how and why the car caught fire.

Among the charges Figueroa now faces are possession of drugs, possession with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute near a school and near public property.

He was also issued motor vehicle summonses for driving while his license is suspended, reckless driving, failure to stop, failure to comply with officers' directions, and double parking.