On Saturday, March 30 at approximately 2:30 a.m., officers responded to the area of Highland Avenue and Edgewood Terrace on a report of a suspicious BMW X5 traveling slowly on Highland Avenue. An officer located the vehicle idling in the middle of the street with its headlights off. The vehicle was discovered to be stolen out of East Brunswick, NJ. As the officer arrived, he observed two males run from a residential driveway back into the stolen BMW. A third male was behind them, also running towards the BMW.
The officer exited his patrol car and attempted to apprehend the individual. The officer was able to grab the person by his jacket as the person entered the BMW. The stolen BMW sped off, dragging the officer for a short period of time before he released his hold on the individual. The vehicle struck the officer as it sped away, specifically his right foot and ankle. The vehicle was last seen fleeing east on Claremont Avenue at a high rate of speed.
The Newark Police Department later pursued the vehicle in their city. Four individuals ran out of the stolen BMW at the Georgia King Village at the intersection of Cabinet Street and Littleton Avenue and managed to escape arrest. The officer was transported to Mountainside Hospital for lacerations, and injuries to his right knee and ankle.
The Montclair Police Department reports the following additional activity in their weekly blotter:
Theft
March 28, 2024 (Claremont Avenue): A resident reported she was notified that an
Amazon package had been delivered to her home. She stated that when she went to retrieve it, she discovered someone had taken it from her porch. The package contained electronics.
Motor Vehicle Crime
March 29, 2024 (Lloyd Road): The resident reported hearing the alarm to her 2022 Audi Q5 Wagon sounding in her driveway. When she went to investigate, she observed an unknown male sitting in the driver’s seat with the door open. The resident yelled and the person fled to an awaiting silver sedan parked near Hoburg Place. The vehicle fled north on Lloyd Road at a high rate of speed.
Assault / Assault on an Officer
March 30, 2024 (Valley Road): Two 17-year-old juvenile males reported that they were standing at the entrance to the Quick Check when an unknown male adult, wearing glasses and a tank top shirt walked into the store and stated to the juveniles, “Get out of my way”. The male then pushed one juvenile and then proceeded to punch the other juvenile. He then exited the store and entered a black Jeep SUV and fled north on Valley Road. One juvenile male was transported to Saint Joseph’s Hospital for injuries to his face.
Burglary
March 31, 2024 (North Mountain Avenue): At approximately 2:06 a.m., a resident reported
that she entered her second-floor bedroom and observed an unknown male standing in her
bedroom. When the male observed the resident, he fled from the home. The resident reported that due to being in shock, she was unable to determine which way he went. He was described only as a male wearing a dark red shirt and a sweater over it. It is unknown how the he entered the home. Nothing was reported missing.
March 31, 2024 (Braemore Road): A resident reported that his residence was entered during the overnight hours. It appears the individual was able to enter the home through an unlocked first floor bathroom window. Once inside, a glass jar containing approximately $250 in coins was removed from the kitchen.
Shots Fired / Aggravated Assault
April 1, 2024 (Maple Avenue): As previously reported, an 18-year-old male from Bloomfield was shot Monday night in the area of Maple Ave. and Woodland Ave. in Montclair. According to Lieutenant Terence Turner, at 9:56 p.m., Montclair Police responded to a report of shots fired. The first responding officer saw two males running to an awaiting vehicle parked on Woodland Ave. The vehicle was stopped by Montclair Police. A passenger in the front seat was a wounded 18-year-old man from Bloomfield. He was treated on scene by Montclair EMS and Medics and transported to University Hospital in Newark. He is reported to be in stable condition. The other two males in the car were not injured. Several shell casings were found on Maple Ave.
There is currently no suspect information. Montclair Police Department said the investigation is early and on-going. Anyone who may have information is asked to call Montclair Police Dept. at (973) 744-1234 and request to speak with the Detective Bureau.
Arrests
March 26, 2024 (Greenwood Avenue): A 49-year-old female from Montclair was charged with criminal mischief.
March 28, 2024 (Bloomfield Avenue): A 52-year-old male from Newark was charged with
shoplifting from CVS on Bloomfield Avenue.