14-Year-Old Boy Rams Stolen BMW Into Cop Car In Bergen County, Police Say

PARAMUS, NJ — An Essex County man and two juveniles have been charged — and one passenger is still at large — after the stolen car they were riding in rammed a Paramus police vehicle late Monday, police said.

Paramus Officer Nicholas Perna came across a stolen grey 2020 BMW X7 just before midnight on Monday, police said. Police determined that the vehicle had been taken during a burglary in Marlboro, in Monmouth County.

In what has become a growing trend, the suspects had forced entry into a home and stole the keys to three vehicles, police said.

"The juvenile operator of the vehicle observed Perna’s marked police vehicle and began driving head on at him in a serpentine manner at a high rate of speed," said the Paramus police. "Perna quickly turned his wheel in an evasive maneuver to avoid being struck."

Police said the driver lost control of the BMW and struck the front left side of Perna’s patrol vehicle, then drove onto the lawn of a house on Ehret Street.

All four occupants fled the vehicle, police said.

Police Dog 'Max' Helps With Collar

Officers Perna and Timothy Erstling caught the rear passenger as he was attempting to jump a backyard fence, police said.

Officer Hugo Rodriguez apprehended the fleeing driver.

A short time later, Officer Connor Nutland was patrolling the area of Lozier and Behnke when he observed the other two suspects fleeing, police said.

A perimeter was established and Bergen County Sheriff K-9 Max was requested.

Officer Nutland and the police dog, Max, located a third suspect hiding behind a house on Lozier, police said.

At the time of this writing, the fourth suspect still remains at large.

The driver, who is 14, from Newark, was charged with juvenile delinquency "for violating the following statutes": resisting arrest, possession of stolen property, and aggravated assault, police said.

He was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center pending hearings.

A passenger, 17, of Newark, was charged with juvenile delinquency for violating statues for resisting arrest, and joyriding. He was released to a family member.

Another passenger, Tamon N. Harris, 19, of Bloomfield, was charged with resisting arrest and joyriding. He was released pending a court hearing.

The Paramus police said, "Special Thank you to the Bergen County Sheriff Officer Ryan O’Neil and Max his K-9 partner for their assistance."

Teen Car Theives A Growing Problem, Officials Say

Last month, six juveniles, ages 12-14, were charged after a stolen car crashed in West Caldwell.

With car thefts on the rise, New Jersey legislators have complained that car theft rings are using younger kids to commit the crimes, as they tend to receive shorter sentences. READ MORE: 4 Teens Caught In Stolen Car After Pursuit In Livingston

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