Police Chase Stolen U-Haul in Linden

Linden, NJ - Two men led police on a chase down Rt. 1 of a stolen U-Haul truck last week in Linden, police there said.

Last Monday, July 25 police responded to the U-Haul facility at 1440 East Edgar Rd. at 10:26 p.m. for a call of a two men breaking into a vehicle in the parking lot. The officers found two men sitting in the front seat of one of the rental trucks and ordered them to exit the vehicle at gunpoint. But instead, the men drove off, leading officers on car chase north on Rt. 1 into Elizabeth. The U-Haul became stuck in traffic on Rt. 1 at East Jersey St. and patrol cars from Linden and Elizabeth surrounded the truck.

The men refused to come out of the vehicle, and after several attempts to open the doors, the two men were removed from the truck and placed under arrest, Captain James Sarnicki of the Linden police said. Two Linden officers suffered injuries to their hands during the arrest. Officers discovered a cash register on the front seat, which had been taken from the U-Haul business, Sarnicki said. Also recovered was a screwdriver and socket wrench.

Frank D. Hazeltine, at left, 32, of Linden, the driver of the truck, was charged with eluding police, aggravated assault (two counts), burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief, obstruction, resisting arrest, and possession of burglar tools. Joseph E. Murphy, at right, 41, who has addresses in Linden and Clark, was charged with burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief, obstruction, resisting arrest, and possession of burglar tools.

Both men are being held at the Union County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail pending a court appearance this week.