Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller is defending his detectives following a car chase earlier this week through three towns.

Police arrested Samir Hughes, 25, of Newark, Tuesday morning after they say he stole a Lexus from Riverside Pediatrics on 10th Street.

Police say the driver almost hit a valet and later a pedestrian. The detectives located the vehicle but say the driver refused to stop, leading to a chase through Secaucus and Bloomfield. The chase eventually ended when the suspect hit a bridge abutment in East Orange.

Miller released a statement on the department Facebook page, saying in part, “I whole-heartedly support the actions of my detectives and their initiatives in apprehending this car thief...Detectives have my authorization to follow the case into any jurisdiction so that justice can be served. The Secaucus Police Department did their job in this case.”

Hughes faces several charges, including theft, burglary and drug possession.