Authorities: Suspect steals police vehicle, strikes officer

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) - Authorities have captured a burglary suspect who allegedly stole a marked police vehicle and struck a police officer as he drove away.

New Brunswick police say 26-year-old city resident Andrell Childs was found around 3:45 p.m. Wednesday in a city home, where he had allegedly barricaded himself in the basement. He was arrested without incident and now faces numerous charges, including burglary and attempted murder.

Childs was captured nearly four hours after he and 24-year-old Duane Quarles Jr., of Plainfield, allegedly tried to run from police responding to a reported burglary in progress on Baldwin Street. Quarles was soon captured at the scene, but Childs allegedly led officers on a foot chase through several yards before he got into the police vehicle that was parked on a nearby street.

An officer there was struck as the suspect drove off. The officer was treated at a hospital for minor injuries, and his name has not been released.

The police vehicle was found abandoned a short time later.

Quarles Jr. also faces numerous counts including burglary, eluding and conspiracy to commit attempted murder.