Somerset County law enforcement officials announced the arrests of Mr. Andrew Barros,19, of Queens, New York and Mr. Rasheen N. Alston,19, of Camden, South Carolina.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on Monday, May 17, at approximately 11:40 p.m., Manville Borough Police Patrol Officers were dispatched to South 7th Avenue, a residential area within the Borough, reporting two individuals operating a Ford Edge and parking said vehicle and attempting to burglarize vehicles on the street by entering them.
Officials said responding officers made contact with the two males, who were later identified as Andrew Barros, the operator of the Ford Edge and Rasheen Alston who was the front seat passenger.
Upon making verbal contact with Barros and Alston, Barros immediately revved the vehicle's engine and fled from police at a high rate of speed. Manville Police were made aware by Somerset County Communications Center that the Ford Edge was reported stolen by the New York City Police Department out of Forest Hills, New York.
Manville Patrol Officers pursued the stolen vehicle, which subsequently concluded when Barros, while operating the Ford Edge, crashed into a marked Manville Police vehicle, disabling both vehicles with heavy damage on Lincoln Avenue, Manville. Defendants Barros and Alston exited the stolen vehicle and fled on foot.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit was requested and responded to assist in searching the two defendants. Manville Patrol Officers were subsequently successful in locating both defendants, who continued to flee from authorities on foot.
Following separate foot pursuits, officials said Barros and Alston were taken into custody without further incident. A Somerset County Superior Court Search Warrant was subsequently executed on the stolen Ford Edge as well as a search incident to arrest the defendants, which resulted in locating burglary proceeds from reported Manville burglaries.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that defendant Barros was charged with 2nd degree Eluding, 3rd-degree Burglary, 3rddegree Receiving Stolen Property, 3rd-degree Resisting Arrest, and 3rd-degree Criminal Mischief. Defendant Alston was charged with 3rd-degree Burglary, 4th-degree Joyriding, and 4th-degree Resisting Arrest by flight.
Both defendants were lodged at the Somerset County Jail pending a bail detention hearing.