Shoplifting suspect leads police on chase in stolen vehicle

A Newark man accused of shoplifting from the Christiana Mall led police on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle, authorities said.

The incident began shortly before 11 a.m. Sept. 26 when a state trooper on patrol was notified that a stolen Nissan Maxima was spotted in the mall parking lot.

The trooper pulled over the vehicle on Stanton Christiana Road, but the driver drove away moments later, speeding down Eagle Run Road, police said. Witnesses directed troopers to the parking lot of the Sonesta Suites on Chapman Road, where they located the stolen vehicle.

The driver, later identified as 51-year-old Elvis Cruz, fled on foot, but troopers caught him after a brief chase and shocked him with a Taser.

Inside the stolen car, police found items that had been stolen earlier in the day from the Macy's at the Christiana Mall. Detectives also connected Cruz to previous shoplifting incidents at Macy's and the theft of more than $1,500 worth of perfume from Perfume Point at the mall.

Cruz was charged with disregarding a police officer's signal, receiving stolen property, theft, organized retail crime, resisting arrest and various traffic offenses. He was released on $12,102 unsecured bond.