TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Two men ditched a stolen Jeep in motion after Township of Washington police officers gave chase, with the driver aiming to be overlooked in a garbage can and his passenger breaking his arm in the fall and planning not to be caught in a nearby wooded area
Police from the township, Hillsdale, Westwood, and Paramus closed in, and both suspects were promptly caught and arrested.
According to Police Chief Richard Skinner, on Saturday Sept. 18 at approximately 2:30 a.m. officers from the WTPD were responding to a report of suspicious persons in the area of West Place. The officers observed a silver colored Jeep Wrangler leaving the area with two occupants matching the description of the reported suspicious persons.
Officers turned their patrol vehicles to check the Jeep as it traveled west on Manhattan Avenue. The driver and passenger suddenly jumped out the Jeep and ran while the vehicle was still in motion and heading toward Pascack Road.
The Jeep continued moving until it struck a utility pole on the side of road.
Officers immediately ran after the driver and passenger. The driver, Shyhiem Clark, 24, from East Orange was apprehended while hiding in a garbage can on the east side of town.
The passenger, Lamar White, 27, from Paterson was apprehended in a wooded area at the south end of Hudson Avenue. The passenger broke his arm after jumping out of the moving vehicle.
The vehicle was identified as stolen from a driveway on Manhattan Avenue. The Jeep’s owner confirmed the vehicle key fob was in the vehicle at the time of the theft.
Clark was charged with eluding, obstruction, theft, unlawful taking of means of conveyance, reckless driving, unlicensed driver, leaving the scene of an accident, and failure to report an accident.
White was charged with eluding, obstruction, theft, and unlawful taking of means of conveyance.
White was taken in custody to Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. Clark was sent to Bergen County Jail.
The WRPD thanked the Hillsdale Police Department, the Paramus Police Department and the Westwood Police Department for their assistance.
Skinner reminds residents that key fobs should be removed from vehicles when they are parked or not in use. Failure to do so can result in theft and/or potential serious injury to innocent people, including police officers.