3 Jersey City Teens Steal Secaucus Police Car, Lead Police On Chase

SECAUCUS, NJ — Three teenage boys were found in a stolen Jeep early Monday morning on Rt. 3; they then rammed Secaucus police cars, injuring an officer, and stole a Secaucus police cruiser, leading Secaucus police officers and others on a wild chase through Kearny, Newark and other towns, said Police Chief Dennis Miller.

The incident began at 2:42 a.m. Monday: Police Officer Paul Miller located an occupied stolen 2018 Jeep Wrangler at the Sunoco gas station at 249 Rt. 3 East.

The Jeep Wrangler was reported stolen from Jersey City on June 26.

When Secaucus Police marked patrol cars converged on the stolen Jeep, the driver, a 15-year-old Jersey City teen boy, intentionally rammed two occupied Secaucus Police vehicles in an attempt to evade capture, whereby one police officer suffered a knee injury.

The teen boy and two passengers then got out of the stolen Jeep and ran on foot.

Sergeant Aniello Schaffer apprehended the front seat passenger, a 16-year-old male of Jersey City, a short distance away. Police officers Dwight Wise and William Smith chased the 15-year-old who had been behind the steering wheel onto Rt. 3 on foot and apprehended him.

The third suspect, the rear seat passenger, then entered a marked Secaucus police car and sped off.

Secaucus Police officers pursued the stolen police car through Jersey City, Kearny and Newark. Kearny Police also engaged in the pursuit. Although site was lost of the stolen police car, the department tracked the car to Hillside, where Hillside Police located it.

The teen suspect remains at large.

“The 15-year-old male driver was just released from an electronic bracelet program last month for previous arrests involving violence, and is back committing crimes,” said Chief Miller. “Although they are 15- and 16-year-olds, these juveniles are criminals and their actions bolster my opinion that they will continue to commit crimes without fear of repercussion. It needs to be recognized that our juvenile justice system needs to be reformed to hold juveniles accountable, or this recidivism will continue. We must acknowledge that not every juvenile can be rehabilitated and must give prosecutors the tools needed to prosecute these criminals or they will continue to plague our communities. I also want to thank all the agencies that assisted us, including the Kearny and Hillside Police Departments, New Jersey State Police and the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office.”

The 15-year–old male driver was charged with Aggravated Assault [2C:12-1b(6)], Possession of a Weapon (vehicle) for an Unlawful Purpose [2C:39-4(d)], Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle [2C:20-10.2(a)], Criminal Mischief [2C:17-3a(2)], Resisting Arrest [2C:29-2a(2)] and Conspiracy to Commit Receiving a Stolen Vehicle [2C:5-2/2C:20-10.2(a)]. He was remanded the Morris County Youth Detention Facility.

The 16-year-old male passenger was charged with Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle [2C:20-10.2(a)], Resisting Arrest [2C:29-2a(2)] and Conspiracy to Commit Receiving a Stolen Vehicle [2C:5-2/2C:20-10.2(a)]. He was released to his parents, pending appearance in Family Court.

Anyone with additional information can contact the Secaucus Police Detective Division at (201) 330-2052 or detectivedivsion@secaucusnjpolice.gov.