Newark Teen Carjacks Off-Duty Cop, Arrested In Hillside: Police

NEWARK, NJ — Newark police have arrested a 17-year-old male who allegedly carjacked an off-duty cop while her young daughter was still in the vehicle last weekend.

According to police, the carjacking took place around 2:15 p.m. as the officer exited her 2016 GMC Acadia on the 500-block of Hawthorne Avenue. At that time, a man got into the car – which had her 12-year-old daughter in the backseat.

The juvenile was able to escape the vehicle unharmed, police said.

As the carjacker drove off, the officer fired her department-issued firearm. Nobody was hit, authorities said.

Police later recovered the Acadia unoccupied on the 100-block of Hansbury Avenue.

Police arrested the suspected carjacker – a 17-year-old Newark resident – around 9:45 p.m. that night in Hillside. He was spotted on Liberty Avenue with two other people in a stolen Toyota Rav 4, which was being sought in connection with the earlier carjacking in Newark, authorities said.

The driver of the Rav 4 led Newark and Hillside police on a chase until the Toyota crashed into a parked car. The three occupants then got out of the vehicle and fled on foot. They were apprehended soon afterwards, police said.

Newark police charged the 17-year-old juvenile with carjacking, conspiracy and receiving stolen property.

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