Stolen SUV Chase Ends In Paterson Crash, Clifton Cops Arrested 4 Teens: Police

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

A group of teens was arrested on the first of the month after leading a police pursuit in a stolen SUV, then crashing in Paterson, authorities said.

The pursuit began around 6:44 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, when Clifton police received information that a 2021 Ford Explorer recently stolen from Wallington was in the area of Ackerman Avenue and Route 21, Lt. Robert Anderson said.

At 7:14 a.m., Officer Alexander Gell spotted the stolen SUV near Lakeview and Piaget avenues, Anderson said. The driver initially pulled over but then sped off, taking officers on a pursuit through Lexington Avenue, Route 46 East, and Route 20 North into Paterson, police said.

Officer Fatijon Zuta joined the pursuit as the SUV circled a city block, re-entered Route 20 in the southbound direction, and then exited onto Market Street, where it hit a curb near East 42nd Street and became disabled, Anderson said.

Lt. Gary Giardina, Sgt. Charles Kling, Officer Justin Davila, and Officer John DeGroat joined Gell and Zuta at the scene, where all four occupants complied with officers and were taken into custody, Anderson said.

The driver was identified as Justin Pinto, 19, of Garfield. The passengers were Christopher Rivera-Fuentes, 18, of Passaic, and Joshua and Luis Pabon, both 18, of Clifton, according to police.

All four were charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, Anderson said. Pinto was additionally charged with eluding and received several motor vehicle summonses.

The group was processed and turned over to the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Hub to await their first court appearance, police said.