Bloomfield Woman, Newark Man Arrested After Car Chase and Crash

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Police arrested a pair of residents from Newark and Bloomfield after they led officers on a car chase in an allegedly stolen vehicle on Monday, authorities said.

According to the Newark Department of Public Safety, an officer observed a Toyota reported stolen out of Newark on Feb. 1 traveling the wrong way on Pennington Street around 12:28 p.m. When the officer attempted a motor vehicle stop, the driver tried to flee, eventually striking two parked cars near the intersection of Mulberry and Camp Street and rendering the Toyota inoperable.

Police then arrested the driver, Marcus Mendez, 39, of Newark, and his passenger, Lauren Fletcher, 32, of Bloomfield, who also goes by the alias of "Kristina Laterza," authorities stated.

Authorities charged Mendez with Receiving Stolen Property, Eluding, Criminal Mischief and Possession of Hypodermic Syringes.

Authorities charged Fletcher with Receiving Stolen Property, Hindering Apprehension and Possession of Hypodermic Syringes.