Somerset Man Among 3 Arrested In Multi-Town Police Chase Of Stolen Car

SOMERSET, NJ — A Somerset man was among three people who were arrested and a gun and bullets were found following a multi-town police chase with a stolen vehicle in Union County on Wednesday afternoon.

On Sept. 20 at around 1:26 p.m., one of Westfield's license plate recognition (LPR) cameras reported a stolen vehicle entering Westfield, said Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro.

The vehicle, a white Ford cargo van, was driving west on East North Avenue.

Officer Kristopher Jackus initially saw the stolen van driving west on East North Avenue in the area of Fourth Avenue and tried to stop it in the area of Crossway Place.

The driver of the vehicle did not stop for Jackus and a chase began and went into Scotch Plains, said Battiloro.

While driving over the Hetfield Avenue bridge from North Avenue to South Avenue, one of the
vehicle’s occupants, identified as a male juvenile, 17, of Plainfield, jumped out of the cargo area of the van while it was still in motion and fled on foot, said Battiloro.

He was later arrested on the road by Officer Michael McCarthy.

The vehicle then stopped, with the driver, identified as Kenadre Williams, 18, of Clementon,
getting out and running away, said Battiloro.

He was arrested after a foot chase by Jackus on Shady Lane in Fanwood.

At the time of his arrest, Williams was in possession of a handbag containing a Ruger 9mm handgun, which he resisted surrendering. A magazine containing seven rounds of ammunition was inserted into the firearm.

The front seat passenger, identified as Basheer White, 18, of Somerset, was arrested by Officer Joseph Natale while getting out of the van.

Williams, the stolen vehicle’s driver, has been charged with receiving stolen property (a third-degree crime); theft of moveable property (a third-degree crime); unlawful possession of a weapon (a second-degree crime); eluding by motor vehicle (a third-degree crime); eluding by foot (a disorderly persons offense); resisting arrest (a fourth-degree crime); possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) – Cocaine (a third-degree crime); and possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) – Heroin (a third-degree crime).

Both White, the stolen vehicle’s front seat passenger, and the juvenile cargo area passenger have
been charged with receiving stolen property (a third-degree crime); eluding by vehicle (a third-degree crime); eluding by foot (a fourth-degree crime); possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) – Cocaine (a third-degree crime); and possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) – Heroin (a third-degree crime).

Williams and White were released on their own recognizance after being processed at the Westfield Police Department and served with criminal complaints.

The juvenile was released to the custody of a parent after being processed at the Westfield Police
Department and served with juvenile delinquency complaints.

The Westfield Police Department was assisted with these arrests by officers from the Scotch Plains
and Fanwood Police Departments.

"The Westfield Police Department continues to aggressively combat vehicle theft and those crimes associated with the use of stolen vehicles," said Chief Battiloro, who credited Westfield’s network of license plate recognition (LPR) cameras with providing real-time information to law enforcement.

"While these LPR cameras have proven to be an extremely effective tool for us, it is our officers who are doing an absolutely outstanding job reacting to the real-time information they provide," said Battiloro.

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