Knife-Wielding Carjackers Crash, Elude Police on Foot

Two men carjacked a group of teens at knifepoint early Saturday morning and eluded police on foot after crashing the vehicle, police said.

The victims told police two Hispanic males approached the vehicle and knocked on the driver side window before asking the driver “are you good?”

When the driver opened the door, the carjacker revealed a large knife and ordered the three passengers out of the car, police said.

The carjackers entered the vehicle and drove away onto Waldo Avenue, police said.

Officer Godson Noel arrived as the car turned onto Waldo and followed the carjacked vehicle. The thieves eluded Officer Noel until they crashed at the corner of Sawyer Avenue and Grove Street in East Orange and jumped out and ran, police said.

Officer Noel chased the carjackers until he lost sight of them on the 600 block of Grove Street in East Orange.

Other officers, including a K-9 unit from the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, set up perimeter and searched the area. The K-9 unit followed a scent near Leslie Street and 1st but lost it a short time later and the search was called off. 

Anyone with information about this incident can contact the Bloomfield Police Department Detective Bureau at 973-680-4084.