Two Charged With Burglary After Hours-Long Manhunt In Mahwah

Mahwah NJ

16 December, 2021

3:11 PM

Description

MAHWAH, NJ — Two men face burglary charges after they were found parked in the middle of a Mahwah street in a stolen Mercedes-Benz. Mahwah police said it represented just one vehicular burglary committed by a trio of New Yorkers, and one remains at large. Police have heightened patrols in the Rio Vista Community following an uptick in high-end car thefts, the department said. While patrolling in the area of Brams Hill Drive on Wednesday, police discovered the car, which was reported stolen from Long Island, New York. As an officer approached the vehicle in his car, two men tried to get back into the car and back into the police cruiser in an apparent attempt to flee the scene, police said. The two men were identified of Kalil Clay, of Brooklyn, New York, and Eric B. Torres of Staten Island, New York. Police didn't identify which of the two were driving the vehicle, but they were unsuccessful in getting the car to start, leading them to flee on foot, police said. Officers from Mahwah were able to apprehend Clay after a "brief foot chase," police said, but were forced to set up a perimeter of the area and contact the New Jersey State Police — for helicopter support — and the Bergen County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit. Area residents were alerted about Torres by way of the departments reverse 911 communication system, police said, and several residents contacted the police dispatch desk to report sightings of him. This included an apparent attempt by Torres to borrow a resident's telephone, police said. After five hours, Torres was seen in a wooded area off of Seminary Drive, and officers were able to arrest him after another foot chase. Further investigation revealed that Clay and Torres had committed other car burglaries, and attempted burglaries, in Mahwah, Oakland and Franklin Lakes. While in possession of the stolen Mercedes-Benz, police said, Torres committed a burglary to a Mahwah residence while fleeing police personnel. Both Clay and Torres were transported to the Bergen County Jail pending a court appearance. In addition, Torres has an extraditable warrant out of Monroe County Court, in Pennsylvania, for a flight to avoid apprehension charge. A third suspect, who has been identified, remains at large with pending criminal charges, police said. Charges are as follows: Clay – Burglary (3 counts), Criminal Attempt to Commit Burglary (1 count), Receiving Stolen Property (7 counts) and Resisting Arrest (1 count)Torres – Burglary (4 counts), Criminal Attempt to Commit Burglary (2 counts), Receiving Stolen Property (7 counts) and Resisting Arrest (1 count)