A 17-year-old from Pottstown, Pennsylvania was arrested early Sunday after fleeing police during a reckless-driving gathering of vehicles at a Secaucus Kohl's parking lot, according to authorities. The teen was charged with eluding and riot: failure to disperse before being released to a juvenile complaint summons.
Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said officers responded to the Kohl's lot at 3 Millcreek Drive at approximately 4:34 a.m. Sunday after receiving a report of a group of vehicles driving recklessly in the parking lot, according to Hudson County View. As Daily Voice reported, police responded to the Kohl's parking lot at 3 Millcreek Drive in Secaucus around 4:34 a.m. after receiving reports of several vehicles driving recklessly.
Officers attempted a motor vehicle stop of one of the vehicles involved, but its driver fled, prompting several other vehicles to also flee the lot and elude police. Secaucus police requested mutual aid from the Union City and East Rutherford police departments, which arrived and attempted to contain the vehicles. Police eventually stopped the fleeing vehicle and arrested its 17-year-old driver from Pottstown, per the same account from Daily Voice.
Charges and Release
The teen was arrested on charges of eluding and riot: failure to disperse, the outlet reported. He was issued a juvenile complaint summons and released from police custody. Miller thanked the Union City and East Rutherford police departments for their assistance, saying the mutual-aid departments assisted in the matter.
New Jersey's riot statute, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-1, covers failure to disperse as part of its riot provisions.
Echoes of Last Year's Street Takeover
Sunday's incident follows an episode in Secaucus in August 2025. More than 100 cars converged in the middle of County Avenue on a Saturday night, according to Patch. Drivers then attacked responding Secaucus police, shooting fireworks and other explosives at patrol cars and climbing on top of them, the outlet reported.
No officers were injured and there were no arrests on scene during that August 2025 takeover, according to News 12 New Jersey. The chief said at the time that the size and violence of that incident was unusual for the area, and police directed additional resources toward investigating it, the station reported.
A Pattern That Hasn't Stopped
Illegal car meet-ups and drag racing have not left Secaucus, Patch reported this week, with residents describing hearing street racing on many nights, particularly along Meadowlands Parkway. Earlier this year, in March, officers located three vehicles parked in a lot on Century Way while loud music played from one vehicle's large external speakers, per Patch's reporting.
A noise violation was issued to that driver, and motor vehicle violations were issued to the other two drivers at the scene before all were ordered to disperse, the outlet noted. Secaucus police have said they will continue to strictly enforce all motor vehicle and town ordinance violations as the gatherings persist.
