By: Richard L. Smith
Authorities in Union County are actively searching for a suspect involved in a strong-armed robbery and carjacking that occurred in Mountainside on Tuesday morning.
Chief Joseph Giannuzzi of the Mountainside Police Department reported that at approximately 10:00 AM, a 25-year-old man from Teaneck alerted police that his 2024 Honda Civic was forcibly stolen on Parkway Drive.
The stolen vehicle was later involved in a crash on Route 22 near Echo Lake Park as the suspect attempted to flee the area.
After the crash, Chief Giannuzzi said the suspect, described as a black male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, red basketball shorts, black sneakers, and a checkered facemask, escaped on foot.
A large law enforcement response followed the incident, with Mountainside Police coordinating with multiple local agencies, including the City of Elizabeth, Kenilworth Police, Cranford Police, and Union County Police.
They utilized drones and received assistance from Westfield Police and Union County Sheriff K-9 units in setting up a perimeter and searching for the suspect.
Despite the extensive efforts, the suspect remains at large.
Mountainside Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective James Debbie at 908-232-8100.
The community's help is crucial in capturing the suspect and preventing further incidents.