High Speed Chase, Manhunt Nabs 5 After Car Theft In Morris Co.: Cops

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Five people have been arrested after leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen Porsche through northern Morris County on Friday, according to officials.

Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll announced that the group was caught after abandoning the vehicle on Route 287, sparking an hours-long search of the area surrounding the Boonton Reservoir.

According to the prosecutor's office, five people were arrested: Marquis Nickels, 28, of Irvington, and Shuron D. Solomon, 24; Sergio Furtado, 20; Dandre McFadden, 24; and Brandon O. Juddmoore, 20, all of Newark.

All five were charged with motor vehicle theft, unlawfully joyriding in a vehicle, conspiracy to commit burglary and resisting arrest by flight.

The pursuit began shortly after 5:43 a.m. on Friday, when the Montville Police Department received calls about a suspicious Porsche Cayenne near Quarry Mountain Road and Turkey Hill Road, according to Carroll.

The car's occupants were attempting to steal vehicles from driveways, residents said.

Officers were able to track down the vehicle, but it sped away, heading onto 287 South, according to the police. During the high-speed chase, the stolen Porsche from Bergen County broke down on the highway, and the five occupants fled on foot.

According to a Facebook post by the Town of Boonton police, the investigation led to an area in Parsippany near the reservoir property.

The subsequent investigation and search lasted until 1 p.m. and included Montville, Boonton, and Parsippany police officers, as well as New Jersey State Police and the Morris County Sheriff's Office.

As a result of extensive search efforts, all five suspects were caught by police.

"This repetitive crime is the subject of intensive study and action by local, county and state law enforcement, the judiciary and governmental officials at all levels. All efforts are being made to identify patterns of criminal conspiracies to interdict these crimes and bring those subjects who lead and collude, especially with juveniles, to justice. We do need the public to also do their part and lock and secure their vehicles” Carroll said.

Automobile theft is on the rise in Morris County and across New Jersey. Law enforcement and elected officials have expressed their displeasure not only with the increasing number of thefts but also with the brazen manner in which they are taking place.

More than 14,000 vehicles were reported stolen in New Jersey last year, with the state on track to break that record in 2022, police said.

Police have noted that many of these thefts involve high-end vehicles taken directly from driveways because owners leave them unlocked with the key fob inside.

Morris County Sheriff James Gannon stated that he and other law enforcement agencies have been meeting frequently recently to plan how to better combat this crime scourge. "Today, we put some of our plans into action and the result was successful. We’ll keep up the communication, strategy, and teamwork."