Resident's 9-1-1 Call Leads to Arrests of Three in Union Township After Attempted Car Break-Ins, Handgun Found

A Union Township resident's quick action led to the arrest of three people, including a juvenile, on charges tied to attempted vehicle break-ins and illegal possession of a firearm, police said.

The episode began around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2, when the resident noticed suspicious activity on Stecher Avenue. According to the account the resident gave police, two men got out of a vehicle, put on face masks and began trying the door handles of parked cars in an attempt to get inside.

The pair then went back to their vehicle and drove off. By then, the resident had already called 9-1-1.

The caller stayed in contact with dispatchers and relayed the suspects' movements as they happened. That information allowed officers to find the vehicle quickly and stop it on Vauxhall Road, near Lincoln Technical Institute.

After the stop, officers carried out an on-site investigation and found a pink SCCY 9mm CPX-1 handgun hidden beneath the driver's seat.

Police arrested Demo Clenord of Irvington Township, Arron Ellis of Newark, and a 17-year-old from Williamstown, New Jersey. All three were charged with attempted motor vehicle burglary and illegal possession of the handgun.

The two adults were taken to the Union County Jail, while the 17-year-old was sent to a detention center. Hearings will be held to determine whether each of them will remain in custody or be released. Police said the vehicle was impounded as part of the continuing investigation.

Union Township Police praised the resident and the wider community for their alertness and cooperation, and stressed how important it is for people to report suspicious activity. "If you see something odd in your neighborhood, please call us, and we will figure out what's going on," police officials said, underscoring the part residents play in keeping their neighborhoods safe.