Suspected Car Thieves Captured In Lynn After Chase Through Several Towns
LYNN (CBS) -- Two adults and two minors were taken into custody after a wild chase involving a stolen car through several towns on the North Shore ended in Lynn Friday afternoon.
The driver 18-year-old Jonathan Cesar, of Malden, and three passengers, 18-year-old Yosvani Hernandez, of Somerville and two juveniles were charged with receiving a motor vehicle. The incident is under investigation and more charges may follow.
It started just before 9 a.m. when Haverhill police got a call about a stolen black C class Mercedes from Smith Motors on River Street. Police said the suspect jumped into the car, which had the key inside, and took off.
Haverhill police tried to stop the suspect, but lost sight of the vehicle. No one was harmed in the process.
The driver led police in a chase down Interstate 93. The car was spotted in Andover and Medford and a tire deflation device was used unsuccessfully.
In Medford, the car stopped and an officer got out to try to stop the driver. When the driver saw the officer, police said he sped away, striking the officer, his cruiser and another car. The officer drove himself to the hospital.
The chase picked up again in Lynn just before 1 p.m. when the car was seen speeding through residential streets.
The four people in the car jumped out on Bowler Street in Lynn where they tried to ditch the car. They were quickly taken into custody by police who tackled them on Pond Street. Police had followed them in unmarked cars. The end of the chase was 21 miles from where it started.
Debbie Hassan was sitting on her porch when she saw the arrest happen.
"There was a young man and a young woman and they handcuffed them," she said. "I would say early 20s, late teens. The kids were foolish but we were all safe."
"I heard all the choppers in the air. Came out, looked down, and next thing I know there's like 20 cruisers out there," a witness who asked not to be identified said.
The stolen Mercedes was eventually towed away. The scene was cleared within 30 minutes, according to a witness.
All suspects are now in police custody. No other information is available at this point in the investigation.
