NUTLEY –
Two men from Paterson were arrested last week after they attempted to flee from Nutley cops and crashed their car on Rt. 21 in Clifton. Inside the vehicle, police reportedly recovered a loaded handgun, as well as narcotics and drug paraphernalia.
At press time, a third suspect was still being hunted.
The incident began at 2:23 a.m. Sept. 13, when Nutley Officer Mark DeLitta clocked a northbound 2000 gray Chrysler doing 80+ mph on the highway, Det. Anthony Montanari said.
DeLitta attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle accelerated and headed toward Clifton, with police following. Near the Rt. 3 overpass, it slammed into a construction barrier, and the three occupants jumped out and fled on foot in different directions, Montanari said.
Apprehended on the banks of the Passaic River were two of the suspects: Dennis Chapman, 19, and Rajon Reed, 18, both of Paterson.
K-9 units and police from surrounding jurisdictions assisted in the search for the third man, but he could not be located. However, detectives reportedly have identified him from a driver’s license found in the impounded car, and warrants have been issued for his arrest.
Authorities are withholding his name until he is in custody.
Chapman and Reed have both been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana, possession of CDS, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest.
They were remanded to the Essex County Jail on $125,000 bail each.
— Karen Zautyk
