Police car at the scene of a criminal related incident
Police car at the scene of a criminal related incident

Carjacking suspect apprehended after series of incidents across Bergen County

Posted by
1 min read
October 13, 2024

BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — A suspect involved in a string of carjackings and a confrontation with police was arrested early Sunday morning after a series of connected incidents throughout Bergen County, authorities said. The South Hackensack Police Department and Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad are leading the investigation.

At approximately 2:34 a.m. on Sunday, South Hackensack police responded to a motor-vehicle crash on Route 46. The occupant of the crashed vehicle abandoned the car and attempted to steal another nearby vehicle but failed. The suspect then successfully committed an armed carjacking of a different vehicle before fleeing the scene.

The initial investigation revealed that the vehicle involved in the crash had been stolen in an earlier armed carjacking in New York City, officials said.

A short time later, the carjacked vehicle was found disabled on the George Washington Bridge. Officers from the Port Authority Police Department responded and located the suspect, who was armed with a knife. The suspect attacked the officers and attempted to steal a police patrol vehicle before being apprehended.

Three Port Authority police officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the confrontation and were treated at a local hospital. They have since been released.

The suspect was also taken to a hospital and remains in custody pending charges. His identity is being withheld while initial charges are filed in Bergen County Superior Court, and the investigation continues.

Further details about the incident and the suspect’s background are expected to be released as the investigation develops.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss