Police officials in Newark announced the arrest of a 17-year-old male juvenile from Newark in connection with the carjacking of an off-duty Newark police officer yesterday.
Police say shortly before 2:15 p.m., the off-duty officer exited her vehicle in the 500-block of Hawthorne Avenue and a male entered the vehicle with a passenger in the backseat.
The child passenger exited the vehicle unharmed police said.
The officer fired her department issued firearm and the suspect fled in the vehicle, a 2016 black GMC Acadia.
The vehicle was later located unoccupied in the 100-block of Hansbury Avenue.
The Newark juvenile was arrested at approximately 9:45 p.m. in Hillside after being observed on Liberty Avenue with two other occupants in a stolen Toyota Rav 4, sought in connection with the carjacking police said.
Both Newark and Hillside Police responded in pursuit of the suspect vehicle, which crashed into a parked car before the three suspects fled the vehicle on foot. All three suspects were apprehended.
Newark Police arrested the juvenile, who is charged with Carjacking, Conspiracy and Receiving Stolen Property.
These charges are merely accusations.
This suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.