Man Steals Two Cars, Flees Accident In Stafford

STAFFORD TOWNSHIP, NJ - Stafford police arrested a Virginia man on Christmas Day after he stole two cars and fled the scene of an accident, Lt. James R. Vaughn said.

Police responded to a minor three-vehicle accident at 9:55 p.m. at the Route 9 North Wawa on Cedar Bridge Road. They learned that a white male fled in a black 2016 Lincoln MKC that was involved in the accident before police arrived. The Lincoln was reported stolen from New York City. Officers initially were unable to locate the suspect, Vaughn said.

Police were notified at 10:47 p.m. that white male matching the suspect's description entered a nearby home on Route 9 North and forcibly took the resident's car keys from him, Vaughn said.

The suspect then stole the resident's red 2007 GMC pickup, and fled the area before police arrived. They began another search for the suspect. Stafford Patrolman Jacob Conner located the stolen GMC at 11 p.m., behind a hunting lodge located on Taylor Lane in Barnegat Township, he said.

The suspect tried to flee again, but was blocked by Conner's vehicle. The suspect attempted to flee through the woods in the stolen GMC pickup, but became stuck after he crashed the pickup into a tree, Vaughn said.

Stafford Patrolmen Jacob Conner and Albert Haldenwang and officers from the Barnegat Police Department arrested Christian Zolea, 27, of Hampton, Virginia.

Zolea was charged with burglary, theft, robbery, possession of stolen property, eluding, resisting arrest, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, and failure to maintain lane, Vaughn said.

Zolea was taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River.

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