2 Police Injured Chasing 3 Teens In Car Theft Attempts At Essex County Country Clubs

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The Millburn police chased and charged three teens and one adult last Friday after getting a report of attempted car thefts at an Essex County country club.

During the pursuit, one of the teens tried escaping onto Route 24 on a stolen bike, police said.

Started At Essex Fells Country Club

Police said that at 1:32 p.m. on Friday, Millburn detectives Royce and DeRosa were alerted to a stolen 2019 black KIA Stinger with three men in it, that was apparently being used to try to steal vehicles at Essex Fells Country Club in Essex Fells.

Royce and DeRosa proceeded to Canoe Brook Country Club in Millburn in case the vehicle showed up there. Then they waited.

Soon after, at 2:55 p.m., they observed the vehicle enter Canoe Brook and park in the parking lot, police said.

The detectives attempted to apprehend the suspects in the parking spot, but the men accelerated out of the spot, briefly dragging DeRosa and nearly hitting Royce, police said.

Both men suffered minor injuries but did not need medical attention.

Then, the car struck two detectives' vehicles and two other vehicles, police said.

At that point, the Kia became disabled and four suspects bailed out and attempted to run, police said.

DeRosa was able to capture the driver, Kendall Stokes, 18, of Newark, police said.

Additional Millburn, Summit, and Springfield Officers responded to assist locating the remaining three men.

Ali Hall, 19, of Newark, and Nazir Coursey, 20, of Newark were located on the Summit side of Canoe Brook.

The fourth, a juvenile, a 17 year old from Newark, was found riding a bicycle on Route 24. The bike had been stolen from a Roland Drive residence, police said.

Stokes was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on an officer, receiving stolen property, and eluding police. Hall and Coursey were charged with receiving stolen property and resisting arrest.

All three adults were taken to the Essex County Correctional Facility. The juvenile was charged with juvenile delinquency and released to a parent.

Two lawmakers in New Jersey said recently that car thefts are an "epidemic" and that gangs have been preying on teens to help commit these crimes.