Newark – Two 17-year-old males from Montclair and East Orange were arrested last night by Essex County sheriff’s and Newark police officers after their stolen vehicle crashed into a parked truck. The suspect vehicle was also wanted in a Newark shooting incident that occurred on Friday
Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that a patrol unit from his department observed a 2015 Volkswagen Passat sedan, reported stolen from Summit, N. J. on August 9th, at North 7th Street and Sussex Avenue.
“Newark police wanted the stolen car in connection for a shooting that occurred yesterday at Avon Avenue and South 12th Street,” Sheriff Fontoura said. “When our officer activated his overhead lights and siren in an attempt to execute a motor vehicle stop the Passat fled the scene erratically and recklessly, hitting estimated speed in excess of 65 mph, and ignoring traffic lights and stop signs.”
Newark Police helicopter Aviation 1 was above the city at that time and gave aerial pursuit with sheriff’s and Newark police officers converging in on the stolen vehicle from the ground.
“The Passat blew a tire and crashed into a parked truck at Brenner and Kent streets some two miles from our original contact with the vehicle,” Fontoura noted. The driver from East Orange and the front passenger from Montclair bailed from the stolen car and were pursued on foot by sheriff’s officers and Newark police.”
After brief chases, both suspects were taken into custody without further incident police said.
“During a pat-down search of the passenger, our officers found him to be in possession of gloves and a black face mask. Along the pursuit route our officers also recovered a 9mm Masterpiece Arms machine pistol with a high capacity magazine that was fully loaded with 30 rounds of illegal hollow point bullets,” the sheriff added.
Police say a third rear seat suspect also ran from the scene and avoided capture last night. A search for that individual is on-going.
According to police, the Montclair juvenile was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a large capacity magazine, receiving stolen property and resisting arrest. The suspect remains at the Essex County Youth Detention Center.
Police say the East Orange juvenile was charged with receiving stolen property and resisting arrest then released to the custody of his mother.
Both suspects await an appearance in Family Court on Friday’s charges.
Police are also investigating if the teens shot up a barbecue outing that occurred in the city's Central Ward on Friday night.
The Passat was impounded and towed, pending a K-9 search for weapons and narcotics and fingerprint examination.