Police: Man Hit Officer, Three Cars in Chase After Theft

An Irvington man led police on a high-speed chase, crashing into three cars and hitting an officer, Wednesday night after shoplifting from Essex Green Shopping Center, West Orange police said.

According to Sgt. Kevin Bolen, Murad Lampley, 22, stole items from Macy's just before 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The store employees called police at about 6:40 p.m. and gave a description of Lampley's car, Bolen said.

Police spotted Lampley's car near the intersection of Mount Pleasant and Prospect avenues and attempted to stop him when he sped off toward Northfield Avenue, Bolen said. 

Heavy traffic slowed Lampley's car as he tried to get onto Interstate 280 and police got out of their cars to approach on foot, the report stated.

Lampley drove away, hitting an officer, while he tried to get out of traffic and onto I-280 down Whittingham Place, Bolen said. 

Speeding down I-280 East, Lampley hit two cars and crashed into a third getting off at exit 14, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Newark, Bolen said.

Lampley then got out of the car and ran but was arrested after a short foot pursuit, the report said.

He was charged with robbery, aggravated assault on a police officer, conspiracy, eluding arrest and theft. Bail was set at $100,000 with no 10 percent and was sent to Essex County jail, Bolen said. 

A passenger in the car, Wajeehah Spears, 23, also of Irvington, was arrested on the same charges as Lampley. Her bail was set a $100,000. 

Spears and the injured officer, who suffered a leg injury, were both treated for minor injuries at a local hospital.