NORTH HUDSON CATALYTIC CONVERTER TASK FORCE ARRESTS CHICAGO MAN ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FROM VEHICLE

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On July 30, 2021, the North Hudson Catalytic Converter Task Force apprehended and arrested a Chicago man attempting to remove a catalytic converter from a vehicle in Union City and charged him with multiple offenses.

Deonte Weekley, age 27, of Chicago, Illinois, has been charged with Criminal Attempt to Commit Theft in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1A(1)/2C:20-3B, a crime of the third-degree; Conspiracy to Commit Theft in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2A(1)/2C:20-3B, a crime of the third-degree; Obstruction in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1A, a crime of the fourth-degree; Resisting Arrest in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2A(2), a crime of the fourth-degree; and Possession of Burglary Tools in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-5A(2); a Disorderly Persons offense.

At approximately 2:17 a.m., plainclothes detectives from the North Hudson Catalytic Converter Task Force – which includes the Hudson County Prosecutors Office, the Union City Police Department, the North Bergen Police Department, the Weehawken Police Department, and the West New York Police Department – observed a 2006 gray colored Infiniti M35X bearing New Jersey temporary registration tags parked blocking a driveway on the 3700 block of Hudson Avenue in Union City. The vehicle’s trunk was open and two unidentified males were observed exiting the vehicle and running southbound on Hudson Avenue. The vehicle was left with the engine running and the trunk open and plainclothes detectives pursued the individuals on foot. Upon checking the area, detectives observed a 2007 Gray Mitsubishi Outlander parked immediately south of the Infiniti and an aluminum/steel car floor jack (mechanical lifting device) was observed under the Outlander and the Outlander’s front left passenger side was lifted off the floor by the floor jack. Also in close proximity to the floor jack, detectives located a sawzall on the sidewalk.

Task Force detectives subsequently located Weekley hiding under a tarp on the property of a daycare located at 118 37Th Street and he was taken into custody without incident. The other suspect remains at large. The Task Force investigation into the rash of catalytic convertor thefts is ongoing.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutors Office, Union City Police Department, the North Bergen Police Department, the Weehawken Police Department, the West New York Police Department and the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, with the investigation and arrests.

The above charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).