A Secaucus police car, left unattended early Monday while officers chased two teens on foot, was swiped from a gas station on Route 3 and eventually ditched in Union County after being pursued through three counties.
Two Jersey City teens were arrested in the incident that began at 2:42 a.m. when Secaucus Police Officer Paul Miller located an occupied, stolen 2018 Jeep Wrangler at the Sunoco Gas Station on Route 3 East. The vehicle had been reported stolen from Jersey City June 26.
When Secaucus police marked units converged on the stolen Jeep, the driver, a 15-year-old boy, intentionally rammed two occupied Secaucus police vehicles in an attempt to evade capture, Police Chief Dennis Miller said, noting that the driver and two passengers fled on foot. One police officer suffered a knee injury in the crash.
Sgt. Aniello Schaffer caught the front seat passenger, a 16-year-old boy, a short distance away, while Police Officers Dwight Wise and William Smith pursued the driver onto Route 3 and apprehended him, Miller said.
The third suspect, the rear seat passenger in the stolen Jeep, jumped into the marked police vehicle and sped off. He was pursued by police through Jersey City, Kearny and Newark. The vehicle was tracked to Hillside and located by Hillside police. The suspect remains at large, Miller said.
“The 15-year-old male driver was just released from the electronic bracelet program last month from previous arrests involving violence and is back committing crimes,” Miller said. “Although they are 15- and 16-year-olds, these juveniles are criminals and their actions bolster my opinion that they will continue to commit crimes without fear of repercussion.
“It needs to be recognized that our juvenile justice system needs to be reformed to hold juveniles accountable or this recidivism will continue. We must acknowledge that not every juvenile can be rehabilitated and must give prosecutors the tools needed to prosecute these criminals or they will continue to plague our communities.
“I also want to thank all the agencies that assisted us including the Kearny and Hillside Police Departments, New Jersey State Police and the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office.”
The 15-year–old driver was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon (vehicle) for an unlawful purpose, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, criminal mischief, resisting arrest and conspiracy to commit receiving a stolen vehicle. He was remanded the Morris County Youth Detention Facility.
The 16-year-old passenger was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, resisting arrest and conspiracy to commit receiving a stolen vehicle. He was released to his parents, pending appearance in Family Court.
The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests and/or charges may follow. Anyone with additional information can contact the Secaucus Police Detective Division at (201) 330-2052 or detectivedivsion@secaucusnjpolice.gov.