By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer
A high-speed chase involving state police and local authorities ended in a Monroe backyard Saturday after two suspects driving a stolen vehicle crashed into a tree and fled the scene.
At 1:24 p.m. a New Jersey State Police trooper spotted a 1994 Buick Century traveling at a high rate of speed on the N.J. Turnpike, said Lt. Gerald Lewis, a public information officer for the New Jersey State Police.
The vehicle’s driver allegedly noticed the pursuing patrol vehicle and slowed down to about 35 mph, he said.
The trooper began to follow the vehicle and contacted a mobile data terminal making an inquiry on the car.
A dispatcher notified the officer the vehicle had been reported stolen from Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, Lt. Lewis said.
The trooper, waiting for backup, then proceeded to pull the vehicle over.
Although the vehicle pulled off to the shoulder, once the trooper began to approach the Buick, the suspects allegedly accelerated the car back on the Turnpike, Lt. Lewis said.
The vehicle exited at Exit 8 where state troopers continued to pursue the car through East Windsor, Hightstown, Cranbury and eventually Monroe, Lt. Lewis said, all the while the car was jumping curbs and making U-turns to try to lose the troopers.
At 1:53 p.m., Cranbury police received word the chase was headed in their direction and responded accordingly, said Cranbury Police Chief Ed Kahler.
The suspects’ vehicle entered the township travelling north on Route 130, but eventually ended up on Applegarth Road, Chief Kahler said.
It was there the driver proceeded through a residential driveway, crashing through a fence, hitting a tree and ultimately disabling the vehicle, Lt. Lewis said.
The suspects ran into the wooded area behind the residence at which point the state troopers proceeded on foot, Lt. Lewis said.
Cranbury police assisted by setting up an approximately 1-mile perimeter surrounding the site of the crash, Chief Kahler said.
On foot, State Police Trooper Ryan Kauffmann followed and confronted one of the suspects, Miguel Colon, 54, of Newark, in the wooded area at which point Mr. Colon took an aggressive stance while holding a screwdriver, Lt. Lewis said.
After a brief struggle in which the trooper received injuries to his legs, lower back and hand, Mr. Colon was taken into custody, he said.
The second suspect, Victor Colon, 46, of the Bronx, N.Y., managed to elude local and state officials for several hours before they caught up with him in Monroe, Lt. Lewis said.
Cranbury and Hamilton Township were some of the local police agencies to assist by setting up perimeters while the state’s K-9 and aviation units were called to the scene to aid in the capture of the second suspect, he said.
At 5:13 p.m. the K-9, unit tracked this second suspect to a dense brush where he was finally apprehended, Lt. Lewis said.
Lt. Lewis said he was unable to determine if the suspects were related or which one had been the driver.
A search of the Buick resulted in the seizure of a backpack full of burglary tools, he said.
Both suspects were transported to the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Facility.
Miguel Colon faces charges of aggravated assault, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest, possession of burglary tools, weapons charges and filing a false report. His bail was set at $260,000 without the 10 percent option.
Victor Colon faces charges of receiving stolen property, eluding, criminal mischief and possession of a burglary tool. His bail was set at $100,000 without the 10 percent option.
The Cranbury First Aid Squad responded to treat Trooper Kauffmann’s injuries.

