By: Tracie Carter
Bergen County authorities took a Newark man into custody Friday morning following a high-speed pursuit on two North Jersey highways, police said.
The teenager reportedly ditched the still-moving vehicle on Route 17 and fled on foot, hiding in a dumpster until police located him, police said.
According to Mahwah authorities, Sergio Pierce, 18, of Newark, was charged with receiving stolen property, aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, hindering apprehension and multiple motor vehicle violations.
The incident began shortly after 2 a.m. Friday morning when several Mahwah police officers responded to the Rio Vista residential community for a report of a suspicious vehicle, police said. They saw a car with a New York registration in the area of Bramshill Drive.
Mahwah officials said when officers approached the vehicle; it sped off. Police learned the car was reported stolen in New York City November 23, according to authorities.
After spotting the car in Mahwah, officers deployed tire deflation devices near the entrance to Route 202 northbound, anticipating the suspect would flee in that direction.
Police say the stolen vehicle struck the tire deflation device and continued onto Route 17 southbound for a half mile until both driver’s side tires began to deflate, police said.
The car pulled over on Route 17 south near MacArthur Boulevard and three suspects ran out of the vehicle — with the car still in drive, police said. The stolen vehicle struck a marked patrol vehicle.
Officers later located Pierce, the alleged driver of the stolen vehicle, hiding in a dumpster off McKee Drive, police said. He is currently being held at the Bergen County Jail.
Police searched unsuccessfully for two other suspects who were allegedly in the vehicle with Pierce and also fled.