N.J. Man Breaks Down In Stolen Car On Way To Nutley Party, Gets Arrested: Police

NUTLEY, NJ — Nutley police arrested a 20-year-old Essex County man after he allegedly stole a car near Newark Penn Station, picked up his 16-year-old friend and tried to drive to a party, only to have the smoking vehicle break down near Kingsland Street and Passaic Avenue, authorities say.

The incident began when Shaquille Crawford, 20, of Newark, allegedly stole a car that was parked on a side street in Newark near Penn Station on the evening of Sept. 5, Nutley police said.

Authorities allege that Crawford then picked up his 16-year-old friend and headed off to attend a party in Nutley. However, after “recklessly driving the vehicle,” Crawford allegedly noticed it wasn’t working properly, and with smoke emanating from the vehicle’s wheel well, attempted to ditch it in the area of Glendale Avenue.

Around 8 p.m., Nutley police received a call from a local resident who said that they saw two people park a smoking car and flee the area. An officer later saw two people fitting the resident’s description and detained them, police said.

At that time, the officer determined that Crawford was wanted by the Essex County Sherriff’s Office and in possession of a stun gun, police said. Police arrested Crawford and took his juvenile passenger into protective custody.

Authorities said that the owner of the allegedly stolen vehicle told officers that he hadn’t noticed that it was stolen until notified by police.

Police turned the juvenile over to his family and charged Crawford with receiving stolen property and possession of unlawful weapon. He was transported to Essex County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.

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