5 Teens Arrested After Police Chase Them In Stolen Mercedes On Route 17: Cops

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Five teenagers were arrested in Paramus on Sunday after police chased their stolen Mercedes on Route 17, police said.

Shortly before 3 a.m., police said, Paramus police began pursuing a 2017 white Mercedes-Benz GLE that had been stolen from Kearny.

Sgt. Sean Nutland saw the car heading north on Route 17 near Ridgewood Avenue in Paramus, police said.

Soon after, the car made a U-turn onto Route 17 South at Linwood Avenue and began accelerating to evade police, they said.

Officer Cesar Hurtado saw the vehicle continue onto the Garden State Parkway South, where he took over the pursuit.

The driver "intentionally struck two Paramus police vehicles" near mile marker 154 South, police said.

Police were able to safely stop the vehicle.

Then, five teens tried to run away on foot, police said.

Hurtado and Officer Ryan Cottrell chased three of the teens who jumped over a guardrail into a wooded area.

They were able to catch Zi-Yahna Howard, 19, of Newark, police said.

Officer Michael Mordaga and Officer Frank Licari then apprehended Jason Thomas, 19, of Newark, as well as the juvenile driver.

The New Jersey State Police caught two other suspects near Garden State Parkway Exit 154, police said.

The teens face the following charges:

• Zi-Yahna Howard, 19, of Newark: Receiving stolen property and resisting arrest.
• Jason Thomas, 19, of Newark: Receiving stolen property, use of a juvenile in the commission of a crime, and resisting arrest
• Juvenile Driver, 17, of Newark: Receiving stolen property, eluding and aggravated assault
• Juvenile Passenger, 16, of Newark: Joy riding and resisting arrest by flight
• Juvenile Passenger, 14, of Newark: Joy riding and resisting arrest by flight

Both adults were taken to the Bergen County Jail and two juveniles were housed in the Juvenile Detention Center, police said.

"The Paramus Police Department remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of our community," said Chief Robert Guidetti.