Wayne Car Chase Leads To Crash, Search In The Woods

WAYNE, NJ — A car chase that tore through Wayne last week resulted in a car crash, followed by a search in the woods and several arrests, police said.

On Oct. 9, around 2:45 a.m., Lincoln Park police were pursuing burglary suspects in a high-speed car chase that entered Wayne Township on Route 202, police said.

Wayne police joined the lone Lincoln Park police cruiser in the chase before the suspect car, a Honda Civic, lost control and crashed on the ramp from Route 23 South to Route 80 East, according to officials.

Two men jumped out of the car and headed into the woods nearby while the driver of the Honda continued down Route 80 East with Lincoln Park police on his tail, police said.

Wayne police, with assistance from neighboring law enforcement, established a perimeter to search for the on-foot suspects. A police drone was launched to search from the air.

Officers heard branches snapping in the woods, and upon investigation, found 20-year-old Isaiah Jenkins, of East Orange, hiding in a storm drain. He was apprehended by police.

Moments later, the police drone picked up heat signatures in the area of the storm drain, leading investigators to Dianzel Jeneo, 18, from East Orange, who was hiding in thick bamboo.

Both men were turned over to the Lincoln Park Police Department, where they were charged with several burglary offenses.

It is unclear if the driver of the Honda was caught.