NEWARK, NJ — Two 17-year-old males from Montclair and East Orange were arrested Aug. 10 by Essex County sheriff’s and Newark police officers after their reportedly stolen vehicle crashed into a parked truck. The suspect vehicle was also wanted in a Newark shooting incident that occurred earlier on Friday, Aug. 10.
Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated in an Aug. 11 press release that a patrol unit from his department observed a 2015 Volkswagen Passat sedan, reported stolen from Summit on Aug. 9, at North 7th Street and Sussex Avenue.
“The stolen car was wanted by Newark police in connection for a shooting that occurred yesterday at Avon Avenue and South 12th Street,” Fontoura said in the release. “When our officer activated his overhead lights and siren in an attempt to execute a motor vehicle stop, the Passat fled the scene in an erratic and reckless manner, hitting estimated speed in excess of 65 mph, and ignoring traffic lights and stop signs.”
Newark police helicopter Aviation 1 was above the city at that time and gave aerial pursuit with sheriff’s and Newark police officers converging on the stolen vehicle from the ground.
“The Passat blew a tire and crashed into a parked truck at Brenner and Kent streets some two miles from our original contact with the vehicle,” Fontoura said. “The driver from East Orange and the front passenger from Montclair bailed from the stolen car and were pursued on foot by sheriff’s officers and Newark police.”
After brief chases, both suspects were taken into custody without further incident.
“During a pat-down search of the passenger our officers found him to be in possession of gloves and a black face mask. Along the pursuit route our officers also recovered a 9mm Masterpiece Arms machine pistol with a high capacity magazine that was fully loaded with 30 rounds of illegal hollow-point bullets,” Fontoura added.
A third rear seat suspect also ran from the scene and avoided capture. A search for that individual is ongoing.
The Montclair juvenile was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a large capacity magazine, receiving stolen property and resisting arrest. He was lodged at the Essex County Youth Detention Center.
The East Orange juvenile was charged with receiving stolen property and resisting arrest. He was released into the custody of his mother.
Both suspects await an appearance in Family Court on these charges.
The Passat was impounded and towed, pending a K-9 search for weapons and narcotics and for fingerprint examination.
All persons are considered innocent unless or until they are proved guilty in a court of law.
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