Suspect in Stolen Squad Car Rams Pursuing Patrol Cars: Police

A carjacker managed to steal a police cruiser in New Jersey Sunday and ram several patrol cars during a chase that ended when he crashed the vehicle at a car dealership, authorities said.

The afternoon chase began when a woman stopped her car to help a man lying on the ground in an intersection in Englewood Cliffs, borough Mayor Joseph Parisi Jr. told NBC 4 New York. When she got out of her car, the man ran to the driver's seat, he said.

The women's two children were in the back seat, but quickly bolted from the car when their mother frantically shouted at them to run, Parisi said. The children weren't injured, he said.

The carjacker drove off followed by police.

At some point, the suspect, whose identity hasn't been disclosed, abandoned the stolen vehicle and snatched a squad car from an Englewood Cliffs police officer who had exited the cruiser to confront the suspect.

The suspect drove off in the stolen squad car and headed north toward Alpine, police said. The suspect rammed other patrol cars during the pursuit and attempted to run down a police officer, officials said.

An Alpine police officer was injured when his patrol car was rammed, officials said.

Officers pursued the stolen squad car through nine communities in Bergen County.

The suspect crashed the cruiser near a Dodge dealership in Paramus and was captured after a brief foot chase, police said.

The two injured officers were treated for minor injuries at a local hospital.

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