Atlantic City man released in Absecon car theft

An Atlantic City man accused of leading Absecon police on a chase in a stolen vehicle was released this week.

Sirjackie Bryant III, 35, is accused of taking the vehicle from an auto dealership, according to information provided at his detention hearing.

Police previously described the place as a parking lot at a business on West California Avenue, and that the vehicle had been left briefly unattended.

Officers spotted the vehicle a short time later, but Bryant refused to stop, according to the charges.

After a brief chase, Bryant abandoned the vehicle on the White Horse Pike and led officers on a foot chase, police said.

He admitted to police that he left his cell phone in the vehicle when he ran.

Bryant contends that he did not steal the vehicle, defense attorney Scott Sherwood told the judge.

Sherwood said his client says that someone outside with the car offered to sell it to him, and that he gave that person money and got into the vehicle.

The judge found that Bryant is not a risk and there are conditions where he could be released while the charges are pending.