A stolen BMW X3 fled from police in Warren Township early Thursday morning, touching off a multi-mile pursuit onto Interstate 78 that ended with the SUV disabled near Exit 40 and four Newark men in handcuffs. Warren Township Police Chief Robert W. Ferreiro said officers received an automated license plate reader alert for the vehicle around 2 a.m., setting off a chain of events that spanned two townships and drew in state troopers.
According to Daily Voice, Warren Township and Bernards Township officers located the BMW near Liberty Corner Road and confirmed it was still listed as stolen. When officers approached, the SUV took off, and police from both townships began a pursuit that carried onto I-78 eastbound. Officers deployed tire deflation devices during the chase, and after several miles the BMW became disabled near Exit 40, per Chief Ferreiro.
Driver Ran on Foot Before Capture
The driver, identified as 20-year-old Kaleem N. Blue of Newark, ditched the vehicle and fled on foot but was arrested after a brief chase, the outlet reported. Three passengers — 19-year-old Shamel S. Souvenir, 24-year-old Brandon A. Brown-Shaw, and 18-year-old Al-Rahman I. Howard, all also of Newark — tried to run once the BMW came to a stop, but officers took them into custody without incident.
Blue faces the heaviest slate of charges: receiving a stolen motor vehicle, conspiracy to receive a stolen motor vehicle, eluding, resisting arrest, credit card theft, and possession of burglar's tools. Souvenir, Brown-Shaw, and Howard were each charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, conspiracy to receive a stolen motor vehicle, and possession of burglar's tools. Bernards Township police and New Jersey State Police assisted Warren Township officers throughout the incident.
What the Charges Could Mean
Under New Jersey statute N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10.2, receiving a stolen motor vehicle is a third-degree crime punishable by three to five years in state prison, but it is a second-degree offense carrying five to ten years if the vehicle's market value is more than $75,000, according to WHYY. Eluding a law enforcement officer in a motor vehicle is generally a third-degree crime under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2(b), carrying three to five years, but it can escalate to a second-degree crime punishable by five to ten years in prison and fines up to $150,000 if the flight created a risk of death or injury to officers or the public, per Brett Rosen Law.
Those statutes reflect a broader legislative push. In July 2023, Governor Phil Murphy signed a four-bill package that stiffened penalties for motor vehicle theft, created a fourth-degree crime for possessing master key fobs, and eliminated the presumption of pretrial release for repeat auto theft offenders arrested within 90 days of a prior offense, WHYY reported at the time. The reforms followed a statewide surge in vehicle thefts and passed unanimously in the legislature.
Tire Deflation Devices and Pursuit Protocol
The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General's statewide Vehicular Pursuit Policy does not list auto theft as an offense authorizing officers to initiate a pursuit. The policy addresses authorized tire deflation devices and pursuit incident reports, according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Exit 40 on I-78, where Thursday's chase ended, connects the highway with County Route 531 near the Watchung borough line, per AARoads.
Part of a Wider Pattern
Part of a Wider Pattern Stolen vehicle cases have surfaced across the region. In March 2026, the Office of the New York State Attorney General and the NYPD unsealed a 92-count indictment dismantling an interstate stolen vehicle ring involving vehicles stolen from New Jersey counties including Bergen and Passaic. Investigators recovered more than 40 vehicles valued at over $1 million, and some recovered vehicles were luxury models; the operation also sold dozens of stolen cars, as Hoodline previously reported on the NYC-to-Jersey theft crew.
It remains unclear whether Blue, Souvenir, Brown-Shaw, and Howard are connected to any larger theft network, and where the BMW X3 was originally stolen has not been disclosed. Prosecutors have not indicated whether they will pursue the enhanced second-degree eluding charge tied to public safety risk during the highway chase. Anyone with information is asked to contact Warren Township police at 908-753-1000, submit a tip through the StopIt app using access code somersetnj, or call the Somerset County tip line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477).
