Cops: Held as thief after he takes heap from car pound

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A Bayonne man stole a car with a smashed windshield, deployed airbags and a missing radio from the Jersey City car pound yesterday morning, but he was quickly captured by police and the vehicle was back a short time later, officials said.

Jamil A. Small, 23, of West 18th Street, was arrested on Bergen Avenue just after midnight Monday and charged with theft by unlawful taking or disposition, reports said.

An employee of the car pound, on Phillip Street near Liberty State Park, said Small was given the key to the red Chevrolet Cavalier after telling pound management he wanted to get paperwork, reports said.

"Small then started the vehicle and drove the car out of the pound," reports said.

A supervisor from the pound apparently followed the vehicle and flagged down a police officer at Bidwell and Ocean avenues, saying the car had just been stolen, reports said.

The officer caught up to the Cavalier on Bergen near Audubon Avenue and Small pulled over when the cop turned on his flashing lights, reports said, adding that he was then placed under arrest.

Small told the officer he was he was going home to pick up clothes and was going to return the vehicle, reports said.