2 Teens Charged After Leading Wayne Police On Chase In Stolen Vehicle, Officials Say

WAYNE, NJ — Police arrested two teenagers after a car chase that ended in Totowa, as they were investigating more reported vehicle and residence break-ins in Wayne earlier this August.

Wayne Township Police said that the 14-year-old and 16-year-old Newark residents were among four young males accused of trying to break in to a home and several vehicles, on the morning of Aug. 20.

Officials said the juveniles were in a vehicle that sped past one of the investigating officers in Wayne, sparking a chase into Totowa that also involved drones and helicopters from New Jersey State Police, and K-9 units from the Passaic County Sheriff's Office. Police from Little Falls also helped in the search.

And, this follows a similar recent incident in Wayne where suspects in a stolen vehicle were able to break in to multiple homes and take several cars, officials said.

The investigation began around 5:26 a.m. that Sunday, according to a report from Wayne PD Detective Captain Dan Daly.

A 911 caller said that several young men in ski masks were trying to break into their Oak Hill Drive home that morning, and also attempting to get into vehicles in the driveway. Several officers went to that location to investigate, Daly said.

Officer David Talerico noticed a vehicle running on nearby Timberline Drive, and walked over to investigate, but the driver accelerated and sped past him, Daly said.

As the vehicle went by, the officer noticed "the vehicle contained four males all in ski masks and that the back, passenger-side window was smashed," Daly said. "The vehicle also had no rear license plate."

Officers set up a perimeter and soon spotted the driver, and Talerico pursued the vehicle onto Route 23, where the driver reportedly went the wrong way down the northbound lanes. Police stopped the chase at this point for public safety, and began pursuing the driver again as the vehicle moved into the southbound lanes.

The pursuit continued onto I-80 and into Totowa, where the vehicle became disabled and stopped in the grass near the the New Jersey State Police Totowa Barracks. All four occupants got out and started running into the cover of woods nearby, Daly said.

Police caught up to one of the suspects, who was slowed down by the muddy ground, Daly said. At this point, officers from Little Falls, state police, and deputies from the sheriff's office had arrived on the scene to help. K-9 units, a drone, and a state police helicopter were all deployed to search for the remaining three suspects.

Daly said a 911 caller lead police to find a second suspect, who was hiding in a shipping container after discarding some of his wet clothing on the ground near a bar on Route 46.

Officers took both teens to Wayne Police Headquarters for processing. Both face charges of receiving stolen property, possession of burglar tools, resisting arrest, hindering apprehension, obstructing the administration of law, and joyriding, Daly said.

Police said the 14-year-old was wanted in Newark, and sent to the Juvenile Detention Center in Essex County. The 16-year-old was released to a guardian, in accordance with juvenile justice reform guidelines, Daly said.

The vehicle that the teens were in had been stolen overnight in Irvington, Daly added.

"This incident follows a similar recent incident in Wayne in which suspects in a stolen vehicle gained access to homes through unlocked doors and windows in the early morning hours," Daly said. "In that case the suspects escaped with multiple stolen vehicles. The Wayne Police Department urges residents to keep vehicles and homes locked for security and safety."