Police Arrest Suspected Car Thieves

Updated, Monday, June 20, 2 p.m.

A Fairfield police officer was injured early Sunday morning when his police car was struck by a stolen car crashing through a gate at a Route 46 auto dealership. Six other thieves fled the scene in stolen vehicles, three, which were later, recovered in Livingston.

Livingston police arrested two adults and one juvenile near the Route 10 traffic circle about 4:30 a.m. Sunday after two of the vehicles crashed while being pursued by police from East Hanover. The third vehicle, a Mercedes, ran out of gas in front of St. Mary's Armenian Church, according to Det. Sgt. Anthony Dippold.

Livingston residents on West Mount Pleasant Avenue said they were awoken by shouting and police lights. They saw a Mercedes on a front lawn and Livingston police arresting one of the suspects.

Livingston police arrested Joe D. Ocasio, 35, of Irvington after a stolen Mercedes SUV overturned at the Route 10 traffic circle and struck a traffic light. Ocasio was injured but refused medical treatment, according to the Livingston police report.

Willie Jackson, 28, of Newark, was reportedly driving the Mercedes that ran out of gas. He was arrested by Livingston police after he attempted to flee on foot.

A juvenile was driving a BMW X5 that hit a fire hydrant. The juvenile, whose name was not released because of his age, was treated at Saint Barnabas Medical Center and released to the Essex County Youth House, Dippold said.

Route 46 East was closed for about eight hours on Sunday as part of the investigation by the Fairfield Police Department and Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

The following arrest information was supplied by the Fairfield Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.

At about 4:01 a.m. Sunday, Fairfield police received a report from security at Skyline Auto Auction on Route 46 that several individuals were allegedly attempting to steal cars.

When officers arrived, a 2002 Ford F350 crashed through the locked security gate and entered Route 46, allegedly striking a marked police car being operated by Officer Alex Cifelli. The driver of the Ford fled on foot but was immediately arrested by Fairfield police officers.

Six other stolen vehicles fled west on Route 46. One of these vehicles was later recovered in Parsippany, three were recovered in Livingston and one was recovered in East Hanover. Livingston police arrested three suspects and East Hanover police arrested one.

The total value of the stolen vehicles was approximately $150,000, Fairfield police said.

Arrested in Fairfield was David L. Darby, 28, of East Orange. He was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and eluding. He was held on $150,000 bail.

Fairfield police also charged Ocasio, Jackson and Dashir W. Donaldson, 24, of Irvington, with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, theft and receiving stolen property. All were held on $50,000 bail.

Cifelli was transported to Morristown Medical Center. The Star-Ledger reported that he suffered a serious head injury.