MOUNTAINSIDE — The Mountainside Police Department is actively investigating a carjacking incident that took place on Parkway Drive last week and resulted in a crash near Echo Lake Park. As of the date of publication, no one has been arrested in connection with the event.
According to official reports, Mountainside Police received a call from a distressed motorist who claimed that his 2024 Honda Civic had been taken by force at approximately 10 a.m. on Wednesday by “a Black male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, red basketball shorts, black sneakers and a checkered facemask.”
Police are not able to provide any further details at this time about the way in which the vehicle was taken, but have confirmed that no one was injured during the incident.
The suspect allegedly fled the scene in the stolen vehicle after getting its owner, a 25-year-old man from Teaneck, to step out of the car. The asof- yet unidentified individual then crashed the vehicle on Route 22 and escaped on foot. Police were deployed in an effort to locate the suspect but were unsuccessful.
Mountainside Police Chief Joseph Giannuzzi confirmed that the incident was still under investigation as of the date of publication.
Mountainside Police were assisted by various local agencies in setting up a perimeter and searching the area for the suspect. Law enforcement drones were provided by the City of Elizabeth, Kenilworth Police, Cranford Police and Union County. Members of the Westfield Police Department and the Union County Sheriff’s K-9 unit also were dispatched to the scene.
Anyone with information pertaining to the incident is asked to contact Detective James Debbie of the Mountainside Police at (908) 232-8100.
