Police apprehended three suspects in Newark and charged them with weapons possession after the suspects attempted to flee a routine traffic stop in Hillside.
A night of shooting violence in Newark that left about 4 people shot and hospitalized in the city's South Ward had neighboring municipalities pay closer attention to their borders.
Hillside police units (already patrolling the Maple Ave. border) attempted to pull over a vehicle in the area shortly before 3 a.m. when the driver of the vehicle briefly complied with the stop, then pulled off during the investigation.
The vehicle (occupied by four suspects) sped into Newark with Hillside police following, came to a halt after colliding with a fire hydrant then overturned on Wainwright Street and Bragaw Ave.
According to residents in the area, two male suspects were able to extricate from the vehicle then attempt to run when officers arrived to the scene and apprehended one of the suspects. Two females were assisted from the overturned vehicle then placed in custody while assisting officer searched the area for the remaining suspect that fled on foot.
"I looked out my window and saw the car hit the fire hydrant then overturn. I couldn't understand why the boys were running and not trying to help the women out of the car. I didn't see one cop in sight until a couple of minutes later when they pulled up and chased the boys on foot" an area resident said.
A search of the vehicle had officers reportedly locate a handgun and other evidence consistent with the suspects committing robberies.
There were no injuries immediately reported.