A 14-year-old from Perth Amboy is facing charges after he led police from Spotswood and East Brunswick on a chase through the two towns in a stolen SUV.
SPOTSWOOD -- A 14-year-old from Perth Amboy is facing charges after he led police on a chase through Spotswood and East Brunswick in a stolen SUV before he and his three passengers were arrested.
The chase began Thursday, Jan. 7 at 10:38 p.m. when East Brunswick police began pursuing a stolen SUV on Route 18 south, police said. The chase continued into Spotswood onto Summerhill Road.
Police said the chase continued south on Summerhill Road at a high rate of speed, and passing vehicles on the wrong side of the road. Then it turned into the Spotswood High School parking lot before continuing northbound, disregarding "do not enter" signs, while traveling in the wrong direction through the Memorial Middle School parking lot at a high rate of speed.
Authorities said the vehicle almost caused a major accident crossing Summerhill Road on Old Stage Road, it ran a red light at an "extremely" high rate of speed. Police officers stopped pursuing the SUV on Old Stage Road, bear Shoprite and followed behind at a safe distance, police said.
When the stolen vehicle turned onto Harrison Avenue in East Brunswick, the driver lost control and crashed into a parked car, police said. Officers arrived within seconds to find the occupants fled on foot.
A search began and neighbors told officers the four teenagers ran towards Spotswood and into an adjacent wooded area. Meanwhile the Spotswood Police Department began receiving multiple 911 calls from Pamela Court and Clyne Avenue residents reporting suspicious males knocking on doors, asking for rides to Perth Amboy, police said.
Authorities said officers from Spotswood and East Brunswick located the four at 7-Eleven on Old Stage Road and Victoria Avenue in Spotswood.
The male driver, who is 14, is charged with eluding in a motor vehicle with risk of death or injury, resisting arrest and multiple motor vehicle violations.
The other three male juveniles, aged 12, 13, and 15, all from Perth Amboy, were also charged with resisting arrest.
They also have stolen vehicle and eluding charges out of East Brunswick.
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