Teen survives leap from carjacked sedan; accused thief arrested

An innocent 15-year-old girl jumped from a carjacked sedan, but she’s OK and the accused thief is behind bars, thanks to Saddle Brook police and their counterparts in Newark. The teen was sleeping in the back seat of a 2007 Infinity FX35 outside the Excelsior on Route 46 when 28-year-old Salik Stephans of Newark got behind the wheel and took off, said Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler.

Jerry DeMarco

05/09/2010 12:45 a.m.

The girl woke up and jumped out on Route 46 in Elmwood Park, the chief said. Emergency workers took her to St. Joseph’s Medical Center, where she was treated for minor injuries, the chief said.

Meanwhile, Newark police picked up the bulletin sent out by Saddle Brook and found the sedan and Stephans less than two hours later. He is being held on $150,000 bail at the Bergen County Jail, charged with carjacking, theft and burglary.

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