MILFORD BOROUGH, N.J. (Hunterdon County) — A Hampton man has been arrested after an alleged carjacking that led to a multi-jurisdiction police pursuit and crash in Hunterdon County, authorities said Tuesday.
Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson said Jarrett C. Burd, 26, was taken into custody Monday following a pursuit that began shortly after a reported carjacking at a Citgo gas station on Frenchtown Road in Milford Borough.
At about 3:22 p.m., New Jersey State Police responded after a man reported his gray 2022 Toyota 4Runner had been stolen at knifepoint, according to the prosecutor’s office. The SUV was later spotted driving erratically through Frenchtown Borough and into Kingwood Township, prompting a pursuit involving multiple police agencies.
Troopers reengaged the chase along County Route 579 in Raritan Township, authorities said. Just after 4:20 p.m., the Toyota collided with another vehicle on County Route 523, disabling both cars. The driver of the second vehicle sustained apparent minor injuries and was transported to Hunterdon Medical Center for evaluation.
Police extracted Burd from the stolen vehicle. He was also treated for minor injuries and identified as the suspect.
Burd is charged with first-degree carjacking, second-degree eluding, third-degree motor vehicle theft, third-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, fourth-degree assault by auto, fourth-degree aggravated assault of emergency medical services personnel, and disorderly persons theft.
On Tuesday, Senior Assistant Prosecutor Tangerla Thomas filed a motion seeking Burd’s pre-trial detention. He is being held at the Warren County Jail and is scheduled to appear Friday before Superior Court Judge Christopher J. Garrenger. Burd is represented by attorney Jada Mayson-Osabu.
If convicted, Burd faces penalties ranging from six months in jail on the disorderly persons charge to up to 20 years in state prison on the first-degree charge, prosecutors said.
The case remains under investigation. Authorities asked anyone with information to contact the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office at (908) 788-1129, the New Jersey State Police Kingwood Station at (908) 996-3404, or the Hunterdon County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-321-0010.
