Chauffeur hails cab, helps nab theft suspect

Monday, May 17, 2010
By CHARLES HACK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A chauffeur had to hail a cab to chase after his limousine after it was stolen from in front of a Downtown Jersey City hotel early Saturday morning, police reports said.

The alleged car thief, Mario Cruz, 20, of Passaic, was arrested after hitting a police car and was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, eluding police and theft, police reports said.

Police received a call at 4:21 a.m. from the limo driver who was following his stolen GMC Yukon in a cab after the SUV was swiped from in front of the Hyatt Regency at 2 Exchange Place, reports said.

The employee of A1 Airport Limousine Services provided police with updates of his location and a patrol car intercepted the stolen SUV at Greene Street and Washington Boulevard, reports said.

But instead of stopping, Cruz tried to ram the police car before continuing north on Washington Boulevard, reports said.

When he reached Washington Boulevard and 18th Street, he crashed into a lamp post, but again continued on before crashing into a building at the corner of 18th and Coles streets, reports said.

The building was not damaged, but as police pulled behind the stolen Yukon, Cruz reversed, hitting a patrol car, reports said.

After he was arrested, Cruz complained of an injury to his wrist and a cut to his ear and was taken to Jersey City Medical Center for treatment, reports said.

While at the hospital Cruz told police he had been drinking and consented to a blood test, reports said.

If the blood tests come back positive, Cruz could also be charged with driving while intoxicated, police said.

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