Hoboken Police Officer Leaps Inside Stolen Grubhub Car

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken police arrested two Jersey City teenagers on Wednesday after a Grubhub delivery man reported his vehicle stolen. They also say that after the teens left the vehicle, it kept rolling, and a police officer jumped inside and put it into park.

The series of events began when a delivery man reported the vehicle stolen around 8:19 p.m. He said he was picking up a delivery in the area of First and Washington streets. He left the vehicle running, and when he returned, it was gone.

Police Officers Damien Bates, Tyrone Huggins and James Barbro responded to the victim and got a description of the stolen vehicle.

Moments later, Police Officer Francis McCourt located the vehicle traveling toward Newark and Harrison streets, near the city's southwestern border with Jersey City.

Officer McCourt followed the vehicle onto Jersey Avenue into Jersey City and activated his lights and sirens.

The vehicle stopped in the area of 17th and Jersey Avenue and the two occupants exited through the passenger side door, police said.

Officer McCourt observed the vehicle rolling away, police said. Officer McCourt quickly took action, jumped inside the vehicle, and placed it into park, police say.

The following police personnel responded to assist with the investigation and search for the two suspects: Lt. Corrado Allegretta, Sgt. Luke Zeszotarski, Det. Sgt. William Collins, Det. Connor Milne, Det. Fabian Quinones, and offiers Marco Grossmann, Jonathan Figueroa, Tyrone Huggins, and James Barbro. They were also assisted by Jersey City Police, Port Authority Police, and Union City K9 unit.

As the investigation continued, two suspects were located by Jersey City Police. Officer McCourt responded and positively identified the two suspects, police say.

They were identified as Deveon Palms, 19, and a 17-year-old male juvenile from Jersey City.

They were both charged with theft of a motor vehicle and eluding.

Palms was remanded to the Hudson County Correctional Facility and the juvenile was remanded to a juvenile detention center.

Not to be left out, the delivery driver was issued a motor vehicle summons for leaving the vehicle running and unattended.

Got news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. Got photos? Please include express written permission from the photographer for us to use them. To be the first to get free news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.