After the crash, investigators determined the man was driving a stolen car
Christian Hernandez-Ruiz LAKEWOOD -- A Lakewood man who crashed after police called off their pursuit of him has been charged with stealing the car he was driving, authorities said Tuesday.
Christian Hernandez-Ruiz, 42, was charged with burglary and auto theft on Monday after authorities determined the car he was driving when he crashed on July 3 was stolen, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
Della Fave said township police tried to stop a Cadillac DTS on that day because of a motor vehicle violation. He said that instead of stopping, the driver, who was later identified as Hernandez-Ruiz, sped off.
Police officers started to chase him but called off the pursuit when the speeds got high, he said. When Hernandez-Ruiz was out of sight of the officers, he lost control of the car and crashed into a tree near New Hampshire Avenue and Oak Street in town, Della Fave said.
The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office took over the investigation because the crash occurred as a result of the police department's efforts to stop the car.
From the investigation, detectives learned that Hernandez-Ruiz did not own the car and that he had broken into the home of the car's owner earlier that day and stole the keys to the vehicle, Della Fave said.
He said Hernandez-Ruiz then returned to the house a short time later and stole the car.
Prosecutor's detectives Brad Frank and Anthony Paciulli went to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune on Monday to arrest Hernandez-Ruiz as he was being released, Della Fave, said.
Hernandez-Ruiz was taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River in lieu of $50,000 bail, he said.
MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.