By Wes Parnell
New York Daily News
NEW YORK — A man stole a cop car in New Jersey and took a joy ride into New York City before leading police on a wild chase that ended in him crashing early Sunday, officials said.
Frank Suarez, 31, allegedly jacked the unoccupied parked police car near 13th St. and Broadway in Bayonne late Saturday while the officer who had been driving was responding to a crash a block away, authorities said.
When the officer found his vehicle stolen Bayonne police shut down all exits in and out of the town, officials said.
“We didn’t think someone would actually leave the town with it,” a police source. “Once it was stolen, we notified all police.”
Cops eventually spotted Suarez, who lives less than a block from where the car was stolen, driving east on I-278 on Staten Island, officials said.
Port Authority officials followed Suarez over the Verrazano Bridge to Brooklyn, where the NYPD joined in the chase, cops said.
The hot pursuit ended when Suarez crashed the car on Fifth Ave. and 27th St. in Sunset Park about 1 a.m. Sunday, cops said.
A Port Authority officer arrested Suarez for possession of a stolen vehicle, reckless endangerment, unauthorized use of a vehicle, criminal mischief and multiple speeding violations, cops said.
Further charges may be brought forward in New Jersey.
“The Bayonne Police department would like to extend their extreme thanks to all the agencies involved, particularly the Port Authority police officer that observed the car and brought this unfortunate incident to a safe resolution” said Bayonne Police Captain Eric Amato.
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