Kearny, NJ – On March 28th, 2025, police were called to a repeat shoplifter at the Passaic Avenue Shopping Plaza. Already onto his second store that day, the suspect filled large garbage bags with merchandise while his car idled in the fire lane outside. As he exited the store, the suspect was confronted by police but refused to comply with orders to stop. An officer attempted to arrest him and a physical struggle ensued which ultimately resulted in the suspect running the officer with his accelerating vehicle. The suspect fled over the Clay Street Bridge, into Newark, NJ. Fortunately, at the hospital, the involved officer’s injuries were determined to be non-life threatening.
A few hours later, with the assistance of the Newark Police Department, the vehicle was located in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Newark. It was seized and the suspect was arrested and transported to the Kearny Police Department.
Ashod R. Holt, 28 of East Orange, was charged with robbery, eluding, three counts of aggravated assault, weapons offenses, assault by auto, endangering another person, obstructing the administration of law, causing injury while driving with a suspended license, operating vehicle during period of suspension (second or subsequent violation), two counts of shoplifting, reckless driving and eight various traffic summonses. The owner of the vehicle was also charged with permitting a revoked-license driver to operate their vehicle. Ashod R. Holt was transferred to the Hudson County Correctional Center. A search warrant was later executed upon the vehicle, revealing evidence that further linked Holt to the incident.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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The Kearny Police Department encourages residents to report suspicious activity through its new Tips Management Portal, accessible at https://kearnynjpd.org/submit-a-tip/. All submissions can remain confidential.
