12-Year-Old And 3 Adults Arrested After Route 17 Police Chase: Cops

PARAMUS, NJ — A pre-teen and three adults were arrested after police pursued a stolen BMW on Route 17, Paramus police said.

On Monday night, just after 11 p.m., Paramus Police Officer Hugo Rodriguez saw a red BMW M3 driving in northern Paramus, and found out the car had been reported stolen from East Hanover. The vehicle then headed to Route 17.

Officer Matt Lanza and Sergeant Anthony Mordaga tried to stop the car, but the suspects fled, leading to a pursuit onto the Garden State Parkway southbound, police said.

"Officers employed standard pursuit intervention techniques to safely halt the fleeing vehicle," police said.

The suspects left the Parkway and continued into Clifton, where the vehicle came to a stop in the area of Pilgrim Drive and Priscilla Street, police said. Everyone in the car tried to flee on foot, police said.

Paramus and Clifton police apprehended four suspects — three adults and a 12-year-old, police said.

A fifth person remains at large, police said.

During the apprehension of one suspect, Sgt. Anthony Mordaga sustained an injury when his foot was run over by the fleeing car, police said. He was treated and released from Valley Hospital.

The following were arrested, police said:

Zair Moore, 24, for receiving stolen property, eluding, and employing a juvenile in the commission of a crime.

Zachary Ramsey, 18, receiving stolen property, eluding, employing a juvenile in the commission of a crime, resisting arrest, aggravated assault on a police officer.

Makhi Pettiford, 18: Receiving stolen property, eluding, employing a juvenile in the commission of a crime, resisting arrest

12-year-old: Receiving stolen property.

All adult defendants were processed at Paramus Police Headquarters and taken to the Bergen County Jail without incident, police said.

The 12-year-old was returned to his home in Newark and released to his father, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Paramus Police Department at Criminal Investigation Bureau (201) 262-3400 X1413.