By: Yuritza Arroyo
The Paramus Police Department announces the arrests of three juvenile males, ages 17, 16 and 15 years old , all of Newark for charges, including, possession of a stolen vehicle, eluding and aggravated assault on a police officer.
On Wednesday, March 22, at approximately 11:32 pm, Paramus Police officers responded to the area of Lawrence Drive on the report of an auto theft in progress.
The first police officer to arrive, Slavko Bajovic, observed three males fleeing from the scene in a Hyundai Tucson, sports utility vehicle.
This vehicle was reported stolen from Irvington NJ earlier in the day.
Officer Bajovic was immediately assisted by Paramus Officer Michael Mordaga.
They both pursued the stolen vehicle into a dead end street where the suspect vehicle spun around and struck Officer Bajovic’s patrol car causing injuries to him and disabling the police car.
Officer Mordaga continued to pursue the vehicle while other officers assisted Bajovic.
Officer Bajovic was transported to Hackensack Medical Center with moderate injuries.
The stolen car proceeded south on Farview Avenue then west on Century Road.
At Century Road and Paramus Road the stolen vehicle, ran a red light and collided with an uninvolved, Lexus vehicle that was driving north on Paramus Road at the intersection.
After the collision, all three suspects fled on foot from the scene. Officer Mordaga was able to capture the driver of the vehicle who was identified as the 17-year-old male.
Police Officer Nicholas Tanelli chased and captured the 15-year-old passenger and Officer Michael Cleary tracked down the 16 year old passenger.
The occupants of the Lexus vehicle struck by the stolen car at Paramus Road and Century Road were treated by Paramus EMS, then transported to Hackensack Medical University Medical Center with moderate injuries.
They were identified as a 56 yoa, female and a 22 yoa, female both of Paramus.
The three suspects were transported to Paramus Police Headquarters where they were booked and processed with Juvenile Complaints.
The 17-year-old driver was remanded to the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center.
The 16-year-old and 15 year were transported back to their homes in Newark, when family members were unavailable to retrieve them from Paramus Police Headquarters.