February 20, 2024

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Police say that on Monday, February 19, 2024 at approximately 5:58 a.m. Officers were dispatched to the area of Locust Avenue West on a report of a catalytic converter theft in progress. While speaking with the victim, Officers were advised there was another catalytic converter theft occurring in the 3400 block of South Broad Street. Arriving Officers observed a dark colored sedan exiting the parking lot of Barclay Apartments at a high rate of speed. The Officers attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop on the vehicle but the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed away from the scene. The Officers terminated the pursuit and last saw the vehicle travelling on Lakeside Boulevard. Shortly after, Officers located a motor vehicle crash between two vehicles in the intersection of Hempstead Road and Arena Drive. One person was seen fleeing on foot from the crash towards Marcia Drive. A foot pursuit ensued and Officers located and arrested one suspect in the backyard of a residence on Shirley Avenue. He was identified as Joel Rodriguez, 31, of the Bronx, NY. Officers were notified by a resident on Marcia Drive that someone was in their backyard. Officers located another suspect behind a shed in the yard. He was identified as Rafael Medina, 31 of the Bronx, NY. Officers also located a third suspect inside the suspect vehicle. He was identified as Renee Gutierrez, 30, of Brooklyn, NY. Inside of the suspect vehicle Officers located approximately twenty catalytic converters and a floor jack. Rodriguez and Medina were transported to Capital Health at Fuld where they were treated for their injuries and released. The driver of the other vehicle was uninjured.

All three suspects were charged with two counts of Theft, two counts of Criminal Mischief, two counts of Possession of Burglars Tools and eighteen counts of Receiving Stolen Property.
Medina and Rodriguez were also charged with Obstructing the Administration of Law and Resisting Arrest. All three were transported and held at the Mercer County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective James Rickey of the Hamilton Police Division Major Crimes Unit at (609) 689-5822 or the Hamilton Police Crime Tip Hotline at (609) 581-4008.

---