Newark Public Safety Director Brian A. O’Hara reports that twelve stolen vehicles were recovered and seventeen arrests were made in the past week as a result of the continued Auto Theft Initiative enforcement.
According to police, eleven adults and six juveniles were apprehended, including two suspects who were found asleep in stolen autos.
“I commend the ongoing efforts of our officers handling this initiative, members of the patrol division, and the Criminal Intelligence Section," Director O’Hara said.
"This crime has a direct impact on the quality of life of our residents and will continue to be a priority of the police division. The police division is coupling modern technology such as automated license plate readers and criminal intelligence to successfully target this type of crime, which has resulted in three times more arrests than at this time last year”.
Police said that one of those suspects was Shahid Salaam, 44, of East Orange, who was charged with receiving stolen property on April 19. He was found asleep behind the wheel of a stolen van. Officers spotted the vehicle around 9 a.m. in the 200 Block of Kerrigan Boulevard.
According to police, on April 27, Jarrell Riles, 30, of Bloomfield, was stopped by officers on patrol in the area of Mulberry Street and West Kinney Street.
Police said, Jarrell Riles, who did not have a license, was driving a stolen Lexus with heavily tinted windows around 12:10 a.m. He was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property.
A week later, on May 2, officers arrested Lonnell Carruthers, 44 years old of Newark, and Curtis Mills, 50 years old of Newark, for receiving stolen property.
Officers observed two males exiting a stolen Toyota Camry around 5 a.m. in the 500 Block of South 19th Street. 480 Clinton Avenue, 2nd Floor
Later that day on May 2, officers arrested three Newark juveniles for receiving stolen property. They were observed entering a stolen 2018 Dodge Durango on Hedden Terrace around 1:10 p.m. with two adults identified as Aquil Horne and Yasmin Smith.
After a foot pursuit, all suspects were successfully apprehended. Aquil Horne and Yasmin Smith were also charged with resisting arrest.