After Police Chase In Hoboken, Jersey City Teen Charged In Drug Crimes And Car Thefts

HOBOKEN, NJ — After a foot chase in Hoboken last Wednesday, the Hoboken police arrested and charged a Jersey City teen in connection with several Jersey City car thefts, as well as drug crimes.

Police arrested Jaliyl Johnson, 19, of Jersey City, whom they said was wanted with five outstanding warrants, on April 20 near Fourth and Washington streets.

He was charged with a host of crimes related to car thefts and cocaine, going back to January:

• Theft of a motor vehicle, eluding police, and receiving stolen property for a crime on Jan. 25;
• Receiving stolen property (a vehicle), burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary and criminal attempt burglary on March 4;
• Theft, eluding, receiving stolen property (vehicle), from an incident on April 8;
• Resisting arrest by flight, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine within 500 feet of a park, charged last Wednesday.

Spotted By Off-Duty Officer

Police say that Wednesday, around 2:36 p.m., Detective Adam Colon was off duty in the area of Fourth and Washington streets. He happened to see Johnson, whom he knew was wanted.

He contacted an on-duty supervisor who dispatched additional undercover units.

Det. Colon did not approach Johnson right away because he was considered a flight risk, police said.

Johnson began to run away when he recognized undercover police units arriving, police said.

"At this time, the detectives pursued him on foot and ultimately fell to the ground with him," police said. " Mr. Johnson was safely placed under arrest with no further incident."

During a search, he was found to be in possession of what is believed to be cocaine.

He was processed on the other charges at police headquarters.

The Incidents

The Jan. 25 charges were related to a stolen car located at Fifth and Jefferson streets in Hoboken. The car was in an accident that evening. When police approached, the occupant drove off. The car had been recently stolen from Jersey City and ultimately was recovered there.

On March 3, Johnson had been charged with receiving stolen property (vehicle) as he was observed driving a car stolen from Jersey City, polcie said.

On March 4, police had charged Johnson with several burglary crimes after they observed him and two other people unlawfully enter a parking garage at 770 Jackson St. and try to enter cars, they said.

On April 8, police saw Johnson operating a car that was stolen from Jersey City, but when Detective Michael Losurdo tried to pull him over, Johnson fled, police say.

Johnson was processed and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility on Wednesday.

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