Bergen County Teens In Stolen Car Lead Police On Chase From Mall To Route 17: Cops

PARAMUS, NJ — Two Bergen County teens were arrested Monday after police spotted them in a stolen car at the mall and chased them onto Route 17, police said.

The teens, from Wallington and Hackensack, were charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and several other offenses.

Just before 12:30 p.m. on Monday, according to police, Sgt. Michael Mordaga saw a Hyundai Elantra heading up the aisles in the parking lot of the Garden State Plaza mall in Paramus.

Mordaga determined that the car had been stolen from Wallington.

The driver spotted Mordaga and left the parking lot, heading to Route 17, said Police Chief Robert Guidetti.

The car entered Route 17 South and "attempted to evade officers by driving on the highway shoulder," Guidetti said.

The car struck a tractor-trailer, hit a Paramus police car, lost control, and crashed into the center divider.

Paramus Sgt. Ryan Hayo arrested the 16-year-old passenger. Mordaga, with help from Officer Griffin of the Bergen County Sheriff's Department, caught the driver, 17, after he tried to run out of the passenger door, Guidetti said.

Investigators determined that someone had defeated the car's ignition, and that the teens were driving it using a USB cable. Police found burglary tools inside.

The driver was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault on a police officer, eluding police, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and possession of burglary tools. He was also issued motor vehicle summonses.

The passenger was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle and possession of burglary tools.