GARFIELD, N.J. — Three men were arrested following a late-night police chase in Garfield that left multiple officers injured, authorities said.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of Christian V. Cepeda, 20, of Paterson; Dante N. Braxton, 20, of Paterson; and Elias X. Montanez, 20, of Elizabeth, on charges including weapons offenses, receiving stolen property, and resisting arrest. The arrests followed an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Garfield Police Department.
The incident began around 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 17, when Garfield police responded to reports of masked individuals on the 400 block of River Drive. Officers encountered the suspects, who fled in a Nissan Altima. The vehicle struck an occupied police SUV before the suspects abandoned the car and ran.
Cepeda was taken into custody after a foot chase. The other two suspects ran in different directions, with one entering a parked Honda Accord. As officers closed in, the suspect behind the wheel of the Accord drove off, dragging one officer and striking another. Both suspects initially escaped, leaving three Garfield officers with injuries.
Authorities have not disclosed further details on how the remaining suspects were apprehended.