KEARNY — A Kearny teenager, one of three people in an SUV stolen from this town, was arrested in Newark on Friday after a police chase near the Newark-Belleville border, authorities reported. But, as of press time, it was not known whether the youth had any connection to the theft itself.
The saga started at 5 a.m. last Thursday, March 23, when a resident of the 100 block of Maple St. in Kearny notified the KPD that he had awakened to find the sliding glass door in his kitchen wide open and off its track. Reportedly, a broken blind was on the floor, some drawers had been opened, and his cell phone was missing.
Also missing was a 2012 Ford F250 truck that had been parked in the driveway. Police said that vehicle was later found abandoned a few blocks away. But on Friday, The Observer was told that a second vehicle, a 2013 Nissan Rogue SUV, had also been taken from the property.
The Nissan reportedly was spotted Friday by Newark police, who pursued it along Lincoln Ave. in the north district of that city. Police said it was occupied by at least three people, who bailed out when it stopped, but the cops caught and arrested one — identified as Justin White, 18, of Kearny.
The KPD recovered the Nissan and had it towed back to Kearny. White reportedly remained in Newark’s custody and had not yet been charged in Kearny.
– Karen Zautyk
