Update: Police Chased Stolen Vehicle, From Hooper Down Fischer

Toms River Police chased a vehicle believed stolen from New York through major intersections, in a pursuit that began at Seacourt Pavilion and continued near Fischer Boulevard and Yellowbank Road.

Police closed a portion of Frontage Road near the intersection of Fischer Boulevard and Yellowbank Road around 6 p.m. on Friday, as part of the pursuit. The black Ford Explorer with New York license plates was left disabled on the street, while the vehicle's occupant, however, fled the vehicle and a major police presence in the area, which used canine officers and multiple squad cars on Fischer Boulevard.

Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said Detective Mark Bajada and Captain Bruce Burgess were at the Seacourt Pavilion on Hooper and Bay Avenues about to check a suspicious car,  when the driver quickly took off out of the lot toward Hooper Avenue.  

The car was spotted traveling northbound on Hooper Avenue, Mastronardy said, where a car chase between the driver and police ensued. The suspect drove onto Fischer Boulevard with police chasing behind, traveling south onto Frontage Road. The car chase was approximately 4 miles from Seacourt to the Yellowbank Road light.

Mastronardy said the suspect then fled on foot through backyards on Frontage Road.  

Squad cars lined intersections on Fischer Boulevard past Bay Avenue, with officers stationed near the Fischer Boulevard entrance to Cattus Island Park, as well.

Four squad cars were lined up along Frontage Road with one officer directing traffic and blocking the entrance on Yellowbank Road.

Frontage Road runs parallel to Fischer Boulevard at the shopping plaza with Ken's Hardware and Dollar General, before connecting with the Yellowbank Road traffic light.

Toms River Police vehicles, sirens flashing, were also spotted heading on Route 37 east.

The police search near Yellowbank was amid heavy torrential downpours in the East Dover section, and began at around 6:19 p.m. on Friday.

The suspect was not apprehended.

Police are still searching fora white male, about 5-foot-8, 175 pounds, 23 years of age and was wearing dark shorts and a red shirt, Mastronardy said.

The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department is assisting in the investigation.