Amid an ongoing investigation into a deadly pursuit, 20 Newark police officers received commendations for their roles into the apprehension of the five carjacking suspects who prompted it.
NEWARK -- With a county investigation into Tuesday's deadly carjacking pursuit underway, officials gathered at City Hall on Friday to honor the officers involved in the apprehension of the five juvenile suspects authorities said prompted the chase and subsequent police standoff.
Twenty Newark police officers received commendations for their roles in catching the suspects. Among them were several patrolmen, investigators and members of the department's emergency response team.
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Speaking from the City Hall rotunda, Mayor Ras Baraka praised the officers, saying he was "proud" of their performance.
"All over the country, incidents like this are turning into media frenzies," he said. "Our men and women did an excellent job that day of making sure that that incident ended safely not just for the perpetrators but for our officers."
But while the police standoff that followed the pursuit ended without injury or incident, the chase itself did not.
Tyree Crawford, 18, of Newark was struck by a police vehicle after bailing out of the vehicle along with five other occupants of the car, officials said. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Three of the suspects were apprehended immediately, officials said. Another two fled on foot, taking refuge in a West Runyon Street residence and prompting the police standoff.
Officials have declined to provide exact details of the chase, citing an ongoing investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Professional Standards Bureau.
Asked if the ceremony was premature given the ongoing investigation, Baraka called the suggestion "ridiculous."
"We took these gentlemen off the street," he said. "Our officers are doing a great job."
Other officials in attendance also praised the assembled officers. "These police did their jobs on that day," said city Police Director Eugene Venable
"We don't need a regional police department," he added, referencing recent suggestions by Governor Chris Christie that the city police department be refashioned into a county-controlled agency.
"Today is a testament that there are partnerships with the Newark police, and that even with a depleted force the department can still do its job," said Essex County Prosecutor's Office Chief of Detectives Anthony Ambrose.
On Wednesday, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office announced charges against all five of the remaining suspects. Authorities have declined to release their names, citing their status as juveniles. The suspects ages range from 14 to 17-years-old, officials said.
Each now faces multiple theft and weapons-related offenses in connection with a series of robberies and shootings officials said took place following the carjacking that began the incident. Two handguns were found in the suspects' possession, officials said.
A police investigation into the incidents is ongoing, officials said.
Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.