An 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old juvenile from Newark were arrested early this morning after a three-town chase, during which the suspects fled from police, crashed their vehicle into a wall, and attempted to escape on foot.
Two other suspects are still at large.
Bloomfield Police Lt. Joe Pulido said at approximately 4 a.m. Sgt. Gary Peters pulled over the suspect's vehicle, and found that the licence plate did not match the vehicle it was on. When Sgt. Peters exited his vehicle, the suspects drove away.
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Pulido said Peters immediately radioed for back-up, and Bloomfield Ptl. Anthony Batelli began pursuing the vehicle as it fled westbound on Bloomfield Avenue.
When the suspects reached the Montclair border, Montclair officers joined the pursuit as Bloomfield terminated their participation.
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Verona Police say the white 2000 Buick sedan entered Verona after fleeing from the officers in Bloomfield and Montclair. While Verona officers were in pursuit on Bloomfield Avenue, the vehicle made a sharp right turn onto the west end of Pine Street, at which point the driver lost control of the vehicle, striking a small retaining wall. The vehicle's four passengers then abandoned the vehicle, and fled the scene on foot.
Police from North Caldwell, Caldwell, Fairfield, Cedar Grove, as well as the Essex County Sheriff's Department and a Sheriff's K-9 unit responded to the scene, setting up a perimeter in an attempt to ensnare the suspects.
Before long, one suspect was apprehended with assistance of Sheriff's Department K-9 unit and Verona Sgt. Michael Traettino. A second suspect was captured by Cedar Grove Police officer Jason Rivers. The other two were not found.
Police arrested Marcus Spencer, 18, and a 17-year-old who was not identified. Spencer was charged with eluding police, obstructing the administration of the law and resisting arrest. Motor vehicle summonses will also be issued, police said. The juvenile was charged with juvenile delinquency for obstructing the administration of the law and resisting arrest.
Additional charges are expected to be filed from the Montclair and Bloomfield Police, but they are not known at this time.
Check back with Patch for more details as they become available.
Bloomfield Patch Substitute Editor Phil Hoops contributed to this report.
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