Early Monday morning, a police cruiser was stolen in New Jersey and authorities are now on the hunt for the thief responsible.
Around 2:42 a.m., a group of teenagers were being pursued by officers for driving a stolen vehicle from Jersey City.
At a Sunoco gas station on Route 3 in Secaucus, the police were able to spot the 2018 Jeep Wrangler that had been stolen.
During the attempted stop, the vehicle aggressively collided with two Secaucus police vehicles that were occupied at the time.
A knee injury was sustained by one of the officers.
Police captured the 16-year-old male passenger and 15-year-old male driver, both of whom fled the scene.
As the stolen Jeep was being pursued by the police, a third suspect who was seated at the back, got into a marked police car and quickly drove away.
The suspect led police on a high-speed chase through Jersey City, Kearny, and Newark, with law enforcement officers in hot pursuit in their own vehicles. The suspect reportedly exceeded speeds of over 100 miles per hour.
Although he managed to escape, the police car was left behind in Hillside.
The perpetrator is still evading capture.
Chief Dennis Miller stated that the 15-year-old male driver, who was released from the electronic bracelet program last month after previous arrests involving violence, has returned to committing crimes. Despite their young age, these juveniles are criminals, and their actions only reinforce the Chief’s belief that they will continue to commit crimes without fear of punishment. It is imperative to recognize that the Juvenile Justice System needs to be reformed so that juveniles are held accountable, otherwise, this cycle of recidivism will persist. It is essential to acknowledge that not every juvenile can be rehabilitated, and prosecutors must be equipped with the necessary tools to prosecute these criminals; otherwise, they will continue to wreak havoc in our communities. Chief Miller expressed his gratitude to all the agencies that assisted them, including the Kearny and Hillside Police Departments, New Jersey State Police, and the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office.
Several residents shared with Eyewitness News their doorbell footage capturing police officers using flashlights and drones to search their driveways and yards for the individual who stole a police cruiser and later abandoned it on Bond Street before fleeing the scene.
Some were jolted awake by the commotion that occurred early in the morning, while others discovered what had happened only upon reviewing their footage.
Chris, a resident of Hillside, expressed his apprehension regarding the recent situation in the area. He shared that it is a bit frightening for him and his family as they want to ensure their safety. “We wanted to make sure everybody is ok. Normally, we don’t have that kind of issue around here in this area,” he stated.
Authorities have charged the 15-year-old driver with a range of offenses, including aggravated assault, possession of a weapon (vehicle) for unlawful purposes, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, and conspiracy to commit receiving a stolen vehicle.
The Morris County Youth Detention Facility became his remand home.
The authorities charged the 16-year-old passenger with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, resisting arrest, and conspiracy to commit receiving a stolen vehicle. They released him to his parents pending an appearance in Family Court.
