The Atlantic City Police Department responded to three serious incidents and arrested two men Sunday morning.
At 5:39 a.m., patrol officers responded to Georgia and Pacific avenues for a report of a man bleeding.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Luis Mateo suffering from a gunshot wound. Mateo was uncooperative with officers and detectives, police said in a news release.
Mateo was transported to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City to be treated for a non-life-threatening injury. Officers followed a blood trail to the first block of south Florida Avenue, where there was evidence of gunfire, police said.
Mateo, 41, of Ewing Township, was found in possession of several bags of cocaine and arrested, according to the news release. He refused to identify himself, but ultimately did before being fingerprinted.
He had active warrants for his arrest from Ewing Township. He was arrested and charged with drug offenses and transported to the Atlantic County jail.
In the second incident, Officer Kevin McGloin responded to the 1500 block of Atlantic Avenue at 9:06 a.m. to take a report of a stolen vehicle. The owner left the vehicle running while going into a store.
Less than 90 minutes later, Officer Martina Martin located the stolen vehicle. Police said it was being driven by Chreshull Rucker, 34, of Atlantic City.
Martin attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop but Rucker took off. He failed to stop at a red light at Pennsylvania and Atlantic avenues, where he crashed into another vehicle before leaving the road and striking a fence and sign, according to the release.
Rucker attempted to flee on foot, but was taken into custody by Martin and Officer Matt Stollenwerk.
During a search of the stolen vehicle, officers found a loaded handgun and pocket knife. The occupants of the vehicle involved in the crash were transported to the medical center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, the release stated.
While investigating this incident, police responded to the first block of south Kentucky Avenue for a man who was stabbed. Officers located the victim, a 36-year-old Atlantic City man, and provided medical aid before he was transported to the medical center.
It was clear that the victim’s injuries were not sustained immediately before police arrived, according to the release.
An investigation conducted by Detective Juanita Harris identified Rucker as the suspect involved in the stabbing. Rucker was charged the following day with armed robbery, aggravated assault, weapons offenses, theft, eluding police, and assault by auto.
Rucker was remanded to the Atlantic County jail.
Anyone with information about these incidents is urged to contact the Atlantic City Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit at 609-347-5766 or submit a text anonymously to tip411 (847411). Begin the text with ACPD.
