Car Thief Rammed Police Cruiser After Two-Town Pursuit, Cops Say

A Newark man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after steering a stolen PT Cruiser into multiple cars, including a cop car, while trying to escape authorities, police said.

Freddy Pacheco, 45, was charged with burglary, theft, eluding, possession of burglary tools and possession of drug paraphernalia and was issued several traffic summonses for driving infractions.

Detective Sgt. George Ricci responded to a report of someone stealing from a work van on the 400 block of Broad Street Tuesday at about 12:40 p.m.

A witness told police dispatch the thief was startled by the van's owner and ran south on Broad Street with the victim chasing him, Bloomfield police reported.

The witness then told Ricci the thief stole a red Chrysler PT Cruiser and was driving northbound on Broad Street in the stolen car, police said.

Ricci spotted the PT Cruiser and attempted to pull it over, but Pacheco refused to stop and turned East on Hoover Avenue, police said.

While traveling on Hoover Avenue, Pacheco struck a car stopped at a red light at the intersection of JFK Drive, before heading northbound onto East Passaic Avenue, police said. 

Other officers joined Ricci in the pursuit as Pacheco continued into Clifton before stopping the vehicle on Martin Street, police said.

As Ricci got out of his vehicle, Pacheco rammed into the police cruiser, according to the report.

Ricci, assisted by Sgts. Vincent Kerney and Gary Peters, Patrolmen Michael Falco, Jeff Alfonso and Thomas Schmittler from Bloomfield PD along with Sgt. Bienkowski and Patrolman Graziadio from Clifton police were able to place Pacheco under arrest.

Judge Vincent Pirone set bail at $50,000. A court date is pending.