Car Theft Suspect Runs Into Woods After Police Spot Stolen Car At Bergen County Mall: Cops

PARAMUS, NJ — Two Newark men were arrested on Wednesday night after an eagle-eyed Paramus police officer spotted a stolen car at the mall, then saw one of the suspects run into the woods, police said.

Donell Carroll, 37, and Elijah Oliver, 32, were ultimately charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle and other offenses, said Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti.

Police said that on Wednesday, shortly after 8:30 p.m., Officer Hugo Rodriguez-Peña was patrolling the Westfield Garden State Plaza just off Route 17.

He noticed an unoccupied, parked 2021 Acura TLX whose driver's side door handle showed signs of tampering. Also, the keyhole was detached, police said.

The damage was "consistent with common techniques used to defeat locking mechanisms and steal vehicles," police said.

Police checked the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and confirmed that the Acura had been reported stolen by the Passaic Police Department the day before.

Sgt. Anthony Mordaga and Officer Slavko Bajovic responded to help. Then, police began surveillance.

Soon after, two men appeared and got into the car, police said.

Into The Woods

As police headed toward the car, one of the men ran to the woods, police said.

Carroll, who had entered the driver’s seat, was arrested. Oliver headed into a wooded area near Fairfield Drive, police said.

Police established a perimeter and brought in the Bergen County Sheriff’s K9 Unit and the Paramus Police Drone Unit.

Officer Ryan O’Neill and K9 Max began tracking the suspect, while Sgt. Andrew Cofone deployed a Paramus UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), police said.

A drone found Oliver hiding behind a home on Fairfield Drive, police said. Officer Matthew Lanza apprehended him.

• Carroll was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, possession of stolen property, and possession of a motor vehicle master key, police said.
• Oliver was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle and resisting arrest by flight.

Both men were taken to the Bergen County Jail.