Suspect allegedly steals NJ Transit police car, drives into Hoboken Terminal
HOBOKEN, New Jersey (WABC) -- Police say a suspect jumped into a New Jersey Transit police SUV at Hoboken Terminal and drove into the building's doors.
It happened at around 8 a.m. Monday.
46-year-old Santiago Brito-Avalos, a Mexican national, arrived in Hoboken just before 8 on a train from Rockland County.
That's when police say he entered a restricted lot, jumped into a K-9 unit SUV that had a spare set of keys inside and took off towards the ferry slip.
He locked the doors so two transit officers who spotted him and tried to stop him couldn't get in.
The suspect slammed into the waiting room doors during the busy morning rush. The impact damaged the doors, but no one was injured.
Officers smashed the vehicle's passenger side doors to get to Santiago, who was arrested at the scene. Charges are pending.
One ferry worker said she heard a series of loud bangs during the commotion. "I don't know if the guy was trying to get inside, backed up and tried to do it again, I don't know," said ticket clerk Evelyn Soto. "I just heard two big noises and I came out. The cop car was already inside the doors, going toward the waiting room of the terminal."
Police say at this point there is no evidence Santiago was attempting to hurt people. NJ Transit said he went out of his way to avoid people who were walking in the area.
Santiago is charged with second degree causing or risking widespread injury or damage, third degree theft of movable property, two counts of third degree burglary and fourth degree impersonating a law enforcement officer.
Police say he has a prior arrest for vandalizing a church in Rockland County.
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