Morristown Man Busted For Driving Stolen Car: Police

MORRISTOWN, NJ — A Morristown man was arrested and charged in connection with driving a stolen vehicle through Fairfield Township in Essex County, according to authorities.

Vanzile was charged with receiving stolen property on Jan. 21 and was released pending an appearance in the Superior Court in Newark.

According to police, one of the department's automated license plate readers alerted officers on the morning of Jan. 21 to the presence of a stolen 2005 Mazda with North Carolina license plates traveling on Route 46.

Corporal Jeffrey Dean later discovered the vehicle near Hollywood Avenue.

Officers then initiated a felony stop on the vehicle, at which point the driver and sole occupant, Clarence Vanzile, was arrested without incident.

Further investigation revealed that Vanzile borrowed the vehicle from the registered owner in North Carolina over two months ago but never returned it, despite being told to do so by the registered owner, police said.

"It appears that Vanzile was well aware that he had borrowed the car of his landlord and was also aware that he never returned it. I am thankful that he immediately pulled over for our police officers and did not put the public at risk by trying to elude police," Fairfield Police Chief Anthony Manna said.

Vanzile is expected to go before the court on Mar. 2, 2023.