By: Richard L. Smith
Newark Police were involved in two separate high-speed chases Thursday night, pursuing suspects linked to multiple armed robberies escalating throughout the city.
One chase extended way beyond city limits and into Middlesex County.
The action started around 9 p.m. when officers were alerted to suspects in a gray Jeep Cherokee bearing reported NJ license plate "J63-FNA", involved in several armed robberies.
When police spotted the vehicle and signaled for it to stop, the driver sped off, igniting a high-speed chase across various wards, onto I-78 westbound, and down the Garden State Parkway southbound at speeds over 85 mph.
The pursuit ended near Sayreville's exit 123, where the suspects evaded capture.
In a second pursuit around 9:35 p.m., linked to a robbery near 55 Union Street in Newark's Ironbound section, police chased a BMW also associated with other felonies.
This chase reached perilous speeds of over 90 mph on I-78 eastbound. For safety, officers terminated the chase around 9:46 p.m. as the suspect weaved through a toll plaza and drove the wrong way on a major intersection.
Both incidents ended without injuries, but the suspects involved in these high-risk chases remain at large.
Newark Police continue their search for these individuals responsible for the night's robberies and dangerous driving.