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TENAFLY, N.J.—On Tuesday, Oct. 9, at about 11:15 p.m., Officer Maxwell Werner was on routine patrol when he observed a suspicious Chevrolet Impala with Washington, D.C. license plates slowly reversing on the wrong side of Coppell Drive near the intersection of Engle Street.
Werner immediately recalled surveillance video obtained from previous nighttime car thefts in our area where suspects could be seen slowly reversing in front of homes they targeted to steal high-end luxury vehicles.
Werner approached in his marked police car, and the vehicle abruptly parked along the curb and turned off all lights. The two occupants within the car then reclined their seats in an attempt to avoid being seen inside the vehicle.
Werner stopped to investigate and spoke with both occupants—identifying the driver as Esua Kearney, 42, of Edgewater, and the passenger as Demetrious Ross, 42, of Piscataway. Both Kearney and Ross were visibly nervous and could not provide an explanation for their suspicious driving or attempt to conceal themselves from approaching cars.
Additional officers arrived on scene, and upon further investigation it was determined that both individuals had extensive criminal histories and multiple aliases. In addition, it was discovered that Kearney had an active warrant out of Irvington for an unpaid traffic fine.
During the course of their investigation, officers on scene found multiple cell phones, a ski mask and several pairs of rubber-coated gloves within the vehicle. Officers recognized that these items have all been commonly used during the commission of recent car thefts and burglaries in and around our area.
Officers also recovered a Range Rover key fob, which was secured as possible evidence of a past burglary. Kearney and Ross were both taken into custody and charged with possession of burglary tools before being transferred to the Bergen County Jail.
Additional motor vehicle summonses were issued to Kearney for driving while suspended, careless driving, and failure to wear seatbelt.
This investigation is still active and additional charges may follow.
“This incident highlights the proactive efforts of our officers to find and arrest burglars and car thieves that target our community,” said Tenafly Police Capt. Michael deMoncada. “However, it should serve as yet another reminder for all residents to remove key fobs and lock their cars, even when parked in their own driveway.
“Criminals will continue to target our community until they realize there is nothing to gain by coming here. Let’s all do our part to keep our neighborhoods safe by locking our cars and reporting any suspicious activity to the police department as soon as you see it,” deMoncada said.
If you have information about this incident, or you think you may be a potential victim of these individuals, contact the Tenafly Detective Bureau at (201) 568-5100.