2 N.J. Men Charged After Crashing Stolen Car In Falls Twp.

FALLS TOWNSHIP, PA —Two New Jersey men have been charged after stealing a vehicle and leading police on a chase before crashing into another car Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Jorge L. Maldonado, 25, of Trenton, N.J., and Rafael Omar Laureano, 27, of Trenton, N.J., were charged in the incident that the Falls Township Police Department began when they were alerted at 1 p.m. Wednesday that a stolen black Honda CRV was seen heading west on Bridge Street in Morrisville.

Maldonado was charged with aggravated assault, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, accident involving damage to an attended vehicle, receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of a vehicle, evading arrest or detention on foot, and reckless driving.

Laureano was charged with evading arrest or detention on foot, and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Both were preliminarily arraigned by District Justice Terry Hughes with Laureano held on 10 percent of $100,000 bail and Maldonado held on 10 percent of $500,000 bail.

Falls Township Police said they were informed by Trenton, N.J., Police that the car was reported stolen on Dec. 23.

Within five minutes, a police officer spotted the Honda traveling on southbound Route 13 near Tyburn Road.

Police followed the car into the Levittown Town Center in Tullytown Borough, where a stop was made on the vehicle in the parking lot, police said.

Despite activating his vehicle’s emergency lights and drawing his weapon, the officer’s commands were ignored by the vehicle’s occupants, police said.

Maldonado drove away, nearly hitting the officer and striking his patrol vehicle, police said. That's when another police officer joined the pursuit.

The chase concluded when the stolen Honda crashed into a Hyundai at the intersection of Route 13 and Levittown Parkway, which disabled both vehicles, police said.

Maldonado and Laureano, of Trenton, attempted to flee on foot but were caught at the Levittown Regional Rail Station, police said.

A subsequent search revealed a small amount of marijuana and a .22 caliber cartridge on Laureano, who also has an active burglary warrant in Trenton, police said.

Police said the driver of the Hyundai Elantra, a 26-year-old Bristol Borough man, experienced pain to his wrist but did not seek medical treatment at the scene.

Police said the Hyundai received significant damage, likely totaling it, while the stolen vehicle sustained disabling damage.

Falls Township Police were assisted by the Bristol Township and Tullytown Borough police departments.