Police Chase Passes Through Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Newark

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Two Montclair police officers sustained injuries while chasing down a group of teens who allegedly tried to steal a car on Fairview Place last week, authorities said Wednesday.

According to the Montclair Police Department, officers responded to a Fairview Place residence at 2:01 a.m. on Dec. 8 after getting a report about a vehicle theft in progress. The would-be thieves – who were unable to steal the vehicle – fled the scene north on Fairview Place in a white SUV before police arrived.

The officer spoke with the victim, who provided a description of the suspects and their vehicle to other patrol units. Here’s what happened next, authorities said:

“Another officer who was patrolling Upper Montclair observed a vehicle matching the description idling on Elston Road. When the officer made a U-turn, the white SUV fled south on Valley Road. The officer attempted to stop the white SUV, however, the suspect vehicle continued to flee at a high rate of speed south on Valley Road. A registration check revealed that the suspect vehicle was an Infinity QX6 reported stolen from Roselle.”

Police said that the officers continued to pursue the vehicle through Montclair, Glen Ridge and Bloomfield before the driver came to a stop at the intersection of West Market Street and North 6th Street in Newark.

At that point, three people fled from the vehicle on foot, but were apprehended by officers after a short pursuit, authorities said.

A Montclair police officer sustained a laceration to his right eye and hand during the foot pursuit, and was treated at Mountainside Hospital. A second officer sustained an injury to his hamstring, authorities said.

An 18-year-old male from Newark was charged with receiving stolen property and eluding, and transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility.

The other two suspects – a 14-year-old male and a 17-year-old male, also from Newark – were charged with receiving stolen property and eluding. The 17-year-old was also charged with attempted motor vehicle burglary stemming from the incident on Fairview Place, police said. Both were transported to the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center.

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