Westfield Police: Officers Injured in Crash with Stolen Vehicle Thursday

WESTFIELD, NJ — Three Westfield police officers were injured Thursday evening in a crash involving a stolen vehicle they were chasing, according to police.

It happened around 5:10 p.m., Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro said.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TAPINTO.NET NEWSLETTER

“We were alerted by an LPR (license plate recognition) camera to the presence of a vehicle displaying a stolen license plate entering Westfield via Central Avenue,” Battiloro said. “A patrol officer located the vehicle in question and attempted to stop it, but the driver refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued.”

MORE: Fighting Vehicle Theft: Westfield PD Getting More License Plate Recognition Cameras

The chase eventually made its way to the north side of town and into Garwood via North Avenue, he said.

“The driver of the vehicle being pursued pulled into a gas station at the southwest corner of North Avenue and Center Street in Garwood, and then behind a building with no outlet,” Battiloro said. “The pursuing officers followed it.”

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TAPINTO APP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS. AVAILABLE IN THE APPLE STORE AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE .

A collision with the vehicle and two pursuing police vehicles occurred behind the building, and three officers were injured, he said.

The driver — who was the sole occupant — of the vehicle being pursued was taken into custody, he said.

“All three officers were transported to an area hospital,” Battiloro said. “One sustained a laceration to his arm that will require stiches. The other two officers were injured by shattered glass.”

The vehicle being pursued was confirmed stolen out of Philadelphia, he said.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing and more information will be released Friday, he said.

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net