Wild High-Speed Chase Through Union County Ends In Crash, Arrests

CRANFORD, NJ - Bad weather and good police work invoving a car chase, a car crash, a foot pursuit through through a cemetery and the search of a swampy area behind Union County College led to the arrest of two men on early Sunday morning, according to the Cranford Police Department.

Akim Gibson, 22, of Newark, and Jakill Simmons, 25, of East Orange, are facing multiple criminal and motor vehicle charges stemming from this incident, police said.

The duo were traveling in a stolen car in Cranford with two others when a chase with police was initiated. The car was abandoned shortly after a crash which led to a search on foot and the apprehension of Gibson and Simmons, who police said are suspects in numerous motor vehicle thefts in surrounding jurisdictions.

The chase began shortly before 3 a.m. on Sunday when Patrolman Gregory Federici saw the driver of a 2013 Volkswagen not wearing his seat belt, police said. The Volkswagen was occupied by four individuals and was traveling in the area of North Avenue East, authorities said.

When Federici attempted to stop the vehicle, it fled through town center and headed north on Springfield at a high rate of speed. Federici pursued the car shortly as it traveled northbound on Springfield Avenue, police said.

According to authorities, Federici ended the pursuit due to the high speeds and erratic driving of the suspect through the residential neighborhood. Due to the aftermath of a severe thunderstorm that had moved through the area earlier in the evening, Springfield Avenue had been closed completely to traffic, due to a downed tree and powerlines.

Cranford Police patrol units located the Volkswagen, which was determined to have been stolen out of Montclair, at the dead-end of Princeton Road after it had crashed.

Police pursued Simmons on foot and he was apprehended by Westfield Police near a cemetery, police said. Gibson was arrested by the Cranford Police Department after he was located in a swampy area behind Union County College, police said.

“The interagency cooperation from the Union County and Westfield Police Department’s undoubtedly assisted in the apprehension of individuals committing numerous motor vehicle thefts and burglaries in an around Union County," Cranford Chief Ryan Greco said. "We remind residents to remove key fobs and lock their vehicles at the end of the day, as there has been an uptick in motor vehicle thefts and burglaries.”

Gibson was charged with Eluding and Possession of Stolen Property and turned over to the New Jersey State Police on an active warrant while Simmons was charged with Resisting Arrest and Possession of Stolen Property and released on a summons pending an appearance in Union County Superior Court, police said.

An investigation is underway to determine the identities of the two other occupants of the vehicle, police said.

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