Car thief arrested

NEWTON - The Newton Police Department received a report on Tuesday Oct. 17, at about 6:15 p.m. from Joseph Stoll, a Lafayette resident, who stated that his vehicle had been stolen. He reported that he parked in the parking lot of 5 Woodside Avenue, Newton and quickly entered Seplows Liquors while leaving his vehicle unattended with the engine running. The vehicle was a 2003 Toyota Sienna minivan. Shortly after, the victim returned to the parking area he found that his vehicle had been taken. Newton Police Officers responded to the scene and searched for the vehicle while Newton Police dispatchers immediately broadcast the information about the stolen vehicle over the Statewide Police Emergency Network (SPEN) to police departments in the area. Sparta Police Officers heard the broadcast and observed the vehicle traveling on Route 15 southbound. The Sparta Police signaled the driver to stop but he refused to pull over and the vehicle was pursued until it traveled into a residential driveway off of Joseph Ct., Sparta and then crashed into a wooded area. The driver fled from the area on foot into the surrounding woods and police were assisted by the Sussex County Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit but were unable to apprehend thesuspect. The vehicle was towed from the scene. After being processed for evidence, it was returned to the owner. he vehicle received damage due to the crash, though the extent of which was unknown at this time since some of the damage was to the undercarriage of the vehicle. Newton and Sparta Police Detectives’ joint investigation including the collection of latent fingerprint evidence and interviews of additional witnesses led to the identification of Patrick C. Nix, age 27 of 79 High Street, Newton, as the perpetrator. Newton Police prepared criminal complaints charging Nix with motor vehicle theft, a third degree crime, and theft of an IPOD and mobile telephone, also a third degree crime. Sparta Police charged Nix with possession of stolen property and eluding police. a second degree crime. Nix was arrested in Newton on Thursday, Nov. 2. , at about 9 p.m. Warrants were authorized and bail was set by Judge John E. Mulhern, JMC. Nix was lodged in the Sussex County Jail in default of a total bail which was set at $97,500.00 no 10% option.