Man Robs Long Valley Business, Crashes Into Ravine While Fleeing, Police Say

LONG VALLEY, NJ — A man who stole a cash register from a Long Valley business crashed into a ravine in Mont Olive while trying to flee the scene, Mount Olive police said.

Dirk M. Cuesta, 48, of Hackettstown, faces a number of charges after police say he stole a cash register from Sherwin Williams in Long Valley on July 30, tried to dispose of evidence and crashed his car into a ravine while fleeing police.

On July 30, Cuesta allegedly stole a cash register with $440 cash from the paint store in Long Valley. He drove to a TD Bank in Mount Olive, police say, where he tossed the register. Mt. Olive police say he tried to cover his license plates before driving away.

According to Washington Twp police, the car Cuesta was driving had been stolen from Belvidere earlier that day.

As he drove away, Cuesta made a sharp turn, driving off the road and crashing into a ravine off of Joy Drive.

Police determined that Cuesta has taken "an unknown number of pills," and he was taken to the hospital from the crash site for treatment.

On Aug. 3, he was released from the hospital and arrested. He was charged with possession of stolen property, tampering with evidence, resisting arrest, being under the influence of controlled dangerous substance, reckless driving, and failure to maintain lane. He remains in jail pending a court hearing.

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