The Secaucus Police Department recently issued the following press release regarding this incident.
On Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at 1:42 P.M., the Secaucus Police Department received a 9-1-1 call from a frantic resident of the 200 block of Moller Street. The resident reported two men were in the process of breaking into her home. The burglars jumped into their getaway vehicle, which was later determined to be stolen out of Paterson, and fled south on County Avenue toward the New Jersey Turnpike. The resident was not injured.
Lieutenant Martin Moreda was monitoring the radio broadcast of the burglary in progress and observed the suspect vehicle fleeing toward 15X of the New Jersey Turnpike. Lieutenant Moreda attempted to stop the vehicle, however it increased its speed and refused to stop, therefore a vehicle pursuit was initiated. The pursuit continued onto the New Jersey Turnpike eastern spur to 495 East and onto the 30th Street ramp in North Bergen where the fleeing vehicle encountered grid locked traffic. During the pursuit, evidence of the crime was being discarded from the vehicle, which was later recovered. The occupants exited the vehicle and fled on foot toward 28th Street in North Bergen.
Jeffery O. Sanders, 51, of Montclair was apprehended on 28th Street in North Bergen. The other occupant, identified as Dwayne A. Thorpe, 50, of Garfield continued to flee on 28th Street through backyards. With the assistance of the New Jersey State Police, North Bergen and Union City Police Departments and the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office a perimeter was established around the surrounding blocks. Dwayne A. Thorpe then unlawfully entered an apartment building on the 2600 block of Newkirk Avenue in North Bergen in an attempt to evade capture. Officers from the Secaucus and North Bergen Police Departments and Hudson County Sheriff’s Office were able to take Dwayne A. Thorpe into custody on the roof of that residence.
We would like to thank the New Jersey State Police, Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, North Bergen and Union City Police Departments for their assistance in apprehending these individuals.
Jeffery O. Sanders and Dwayne A. Thorpe were each charged with Burglary [2C:18-2a(1)], Conspiracy to Commit Burglary [2C:5-2/2C:18-2a(1)], Resisting Arrest [2C:29-2a(2)] and Possession of Burglar’s Tools [2C:5-5]. Dwayne A. Thorpe, the driver of the pursued vehicle, was additionally charged with Eluding [2C:29-2b], Burglary [2C:18-2a(1)] for unlawfully entering the Newkirk Avenue residence and Receiving Stolen Property [2C:20-7]. Jeffery O. Sanders also had four (4) separate warrants for his arrest, each for Burglary issued in Edison, NJ. These charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed. Anyone with video of the incident or with any additional information is asked to contact the Secaucus Police Department Detective Division at (201) 330-2052 or detectivedivision@secaucus.net. All calls can be kept confidential.
