Knife-Wielding Carjacker Attacks 3 Cops, Police Say: NJ Weekend

NEW JERSEY — An armed carjacker attacked police officers, sending three of them to the hospital, and a hostage situation was reported at a ShopRite in Lawnside, NJ.

Here are the headlines from the weekend in New Jersey:

Armed Carjacker Attacks Cops On George Washington Bridge

A carjacker left a stolen vehicle on the George Washington Bridge on Sunday, and attacked police with a knife sending three officers to the hospital, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Around 2:34 a.m. on Sunday, the South Hackensack Police Department responded to a crash near Route 46. The crashed car was found abandoned, and investigators said it had been stolen in a carjacking in New York City.

The person who'd crashed the stolen vehicle then carjacked a different vehicle from a Route 46 business to flee, prosecutors said.

A short time later, the vehicle was found abandoned and disabled on the George Washington Bridge.

Officers from the Port Authority Police Department caught up to the suspect, who had a knife and attacked the officers. He also tried to steal a police car during the confrontation, prosecutors said.

Three Police Officers from the Port Authority Police Department were treated at a local area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and have since been released, prosecutors said.

The suspect was ultimately apprehended, and taken to a local area hospital.

South Brunswick Townhouse Unit Damaged In Blaze

A three-alarm fire broke out at a townhouse complex over the weekend in South Brunswick, making one home uninhabitable, officials said.

At 6:11 a.m. on Saturday, firefighters and police officers were dispatched to Building 62 Cedar Court in the Whispering Woods complex for a report of smoke coming from a balcony and an alarm sounding on the third floor.

First responders entered the 18-unit townhome building and found heavy smoke with fire burning through the walls and ceiling of a residence on the third floor, officials said.

Police officers immediately began evacuating the residents as firefighters stretched a hose line to the third-floor unit to battle the fire.

Firefighters were able to confine the blaze to one unit, with several other residences suffering minor damage, officials said.

One unit was deemed uninhabitable, with the residents of all other units allowed to re-occupy their homes. The fire is currently under investigation by the South Brunswick Township Fire Safety Bureau.

Driver Charged In Fatal Hit-&-Run In Bergen County

A Kearny man was charged in a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of a 57-year-old Lyndhurst man, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.

Steveen G. Novillo-Cabrera, 29, was taken into custody on Friday and charged with second-degree knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death; third-degree hindering apprehension; third-degree endangering an injured victim; and fourth-degree tampering with evidence; as well as related motor vehicle offenses.

On Thursday, around 9:49 p.m., the Lyndhurst Police Department received a 911 call reporting that a pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle.

George Arnold, 57, was pronounced dead at the scene. According to investigation, a 2020 Honda Civic struck Arnold as he tried crossing Ridge Road near the intersection of Milton Avenue.

Following the crash, Novillo-Cabrera the driver of the Honda, fled the scene. He later attempted to repair the vehicle to conceal his involvement in the incident, Musella said.

Novillo-Cabrera was taken to Bergen County Jail pending his court appearance in Hackensack.

Firefighters Battle Ramsey House Fire For 4 Hours

A Saturday night fire blazed through a home in Ramsey, leaving the family homeless.

The Ramsey Fire Department arrived at a home in Carriage Lane to find the house engulfed in flames. Firefighters were met with heavy fire on the first and second floor of the house, as well as the attic.

Firefighters from multiple surrounding towns had to be brought in to battle the blaze, Ramsey Fire Department said.

It took firefighters four hours to bring the fire under control. It’s not immediately clear what caused the fire.

Hostage Situation Reported At Lawnside ShopRite

A hostage situation took place at a ShopRite in Lawnside on Saturday night, according to 6ABC.

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the ShopRite at White Horse Pike in Lawnside around 7 p.m. on Saturday.

One person was taken into custody, Barrington Police said.

ShopRite was closed for a few hours as authorities investigated. No other information was available.

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