Nutley Schools Went On Alert During Police Chase; 4 Arrests Made

NUTLEY, NJ — Nutley police arrested four teens from Bloomfield and Newark who allegedly burglarized a local home on Wednesday. Schools were temporarily put on alert during the incident as officers chased down the teenage suspects, who led them on a foot pursuit through several local yards.

According to the Nutley Police Department, officers responded to a "suspicious persons” report on Ravine Avenue, where they found three Bloomfield teens carrying airsoft guns and a 19-year-old female from Newark. The teens – who had allegedly just burglarized an occupied home – then took off running through nearby residential yards.

Police eventually apprehended the teens after a foot chase. Officers transported them to headquarters and charged them with burglary, weapon possession and conspiracy charges, authorities said.

Police Chief Thomas Strumolo said that authorities placed nearby schools on alert until they were certain no additional suspects were in the area. An officer was injured during the pursuit but was released from the hospital the same day.

Strumolo commended an anonymous caller that reported the suspicious activity, as well as the responding officers for their quick actions.

After additional investigation, Nutley police gathered information that the four teens may have been familiar with the residents of the home they allegedly burglarized. With a search warrant, detectives entered the home and found “controlled substances” inside. Authorities then filed additional charges against the resident.

According to Police Director Alphonse Petracco, Wednesday’s incident was “isolated,” and the four teens had specifically targeted a home and person they were familiar with.

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