Car Thief Drags Victim During Gas Station Escape, Arrested In NJ: Reading Police

READING, MA — A suspect in a car theft and assault at a Reading gas station was caught Saturday night in New Jersey, according to police.

The suspect, who was not identified by police, is a 32-year-old man from Livermore Falls, Maine. He was arrested at 11:30 p.m. Saturday in Robbinsville Township, New Jersey.

Reading police received multiple 911 calls reporting an SUV was stolen from a customer pumping gas at the Shell at 110 Main St.

A police investigation found that a customer was pumping gas on the passenger side of their black 2022 Range Rover Sport when the suspect pulled up and parked next to another pump in a blue Chevrolet Malibu previously reported stolen out of Maine, according to police.

The suspect left the Chevy, jumped into the Range Rover's driver's seat, and did a U-turn in the gas station parking lot. The suspect struck and partially ran over the victim while driving away.

The victim, a 49-year-old Reading man, held onto the mirror of his vehicle as the suspect fled the gas station parking lot, police said.

He was dragged by the fleeing car for about 20 feet.

The victim was transported to Lahey Hospital & Medical Center with unknown injuries, according to police.

The suspect fled Massachusetts in the stolen Range Rover and traveled through Connecticut and New York and into New Jersey.

The Malibu had been stolen out of Maine, and police had the car towed.

Reading police said they "will be applying for a warrant for multiple criminal charges in Woburn District Court at a later date."

The suspect will also likely face additional charges in New Jersey and Maine, according to police.

The investigation is ongoing.