Three Essex County males were arrested after leading township police on a pursuit Wednesday afternoon.
A Union Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit on patrol on in an unmarked police car on Vauxhall Road near Rt. 22 shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, observed a car driving erratically, almost causing an accident.
When the officer checked the vehicle's registration via headquarters, he was advised that the vehicle was reported stolen out of Irvington.
The officer began to follow the car - a 2000 Honda Civic, blue - that quickly turned onto a side street and accelerated away from the unmarked vehicle, with the officer keeping a safe distance.
The pursuit continued through several streets when the stolen vehicle struck the front of the police vehicle and continued heading towards Morris Avenue.
Despite additional officers responded to the scene, the pursuit was terminated because the stolen vehicle was driving dangerously on Morris Avenue.
The stolen car continued after collided with a parked car on Morris Avenue near Colonial Avenue.
Moments later, two officers in the area of Kean University, saw the stolen car and followed it into the college, but quickly ceased following it when the driver became too reckless.
Additional responding officers in the area, spotted the stolen car slowing down due to the damage from the crash causing the car to stop in front of Suspenders Bar, located at 1131 Magie Avenue, with the 3 occupants bailing from the vehicle.
Officer Dan Teleposky and Street Crimes Unit Officers Chris Lensi and Dominic Nuzzo saw the suspects after they had jumped over a fence onto Roseland Place.
The two suspects were quickly apprehended but a the third male jumped several fences and tried to hide under a deck in a rear yard.
Ultimately, he was also arrested and found to be a juvenile.
The arrested males were later identified as Lorvens Francois, Park Pl., Irvington, 18, (the driver)
Kevin Antoine, 19, of Newark, and a
16-year-old Irvington teen.
All three were charged with receiving stolen property, referring to the car which was reported stolen out of Irvington hours prior to the arrest.
They also resisted arrest and refused to be handcuffed.
The driver will be issued several citations police said.
The juvenile was returned to his family in Irvington while the two adults will have bail set and then transferred to the Union County Jail.
Photos: Courtesy of Union Twp. Police