Stolen Car Hits Montclair Cop, Driver Speeds Away: Police

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A stolen car struck a Montclair police officer last weekend as its driver made a high-speed getaway, authorities announced Tuesday.

According to the Montclair Police Department, officers responded to the area of Highland Avenue and Edgewood Terrace around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday after getting a report about a “suspicious” car travelling slowly on Highland Avenue.

An officer found the vehicle – a BMW X5 – idling in the middle of the street with its headlights off. It was later discovered that the car was reported stolen from East Brunswick, authorities said.

Here’s what happened next, police said:

“As the officer arrived, he observed two males run from a residential driveway back into the stolen BMW. A third male was behind them, also running towards the BMW. The officer exited his patrol car and attempted to apprehend the third suspect. The officer was able to grab the third suspect by his jacket as the suspect entered the BMW. The stolen BMW sped off, dragging the officer for a short period of time before he released his hold on the suspect. The vehicle struck the officer as it sped away, specifically his right foot and ankle.”

The vehicle was last seen headed east on Claremont Avenue at a high rate of speed, authorities said.

Montclair police noted that their peers in Newark later took up the chase:

“The Newark Police Department later pursued the vehicle in their city. Four suspects bailed out of the stolen BMW at the Georgia King Village at the intersection of Cabinet Street and Littleton Avenue and managed to escape arrest.”

Authorities said the injured Montclair officer was transported to Mountainside Hospital, where he was treated for lacerations and injuries to his right knee and ankle.

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