Police in Paterson New Jersey arrested a suspect accused of committing a carjacking outside a local Wendy s restaurant. The stolen vehicle reportedly had three young children inside at the time of the auto theft.
The suspect allegedly stole the motor vehicle just after 8:00 a.m. The car was parked in the parking lot of the Wendy s fast food restaurant located at 145 Broadway in Paterson, NJ. The site of the auto theft is close to Paterson police headquarters, which are located at 111 Broadway in Paterson.
The kids inside the car are two years old, four years old, and five years old, respectively. They were sitting in the backseat when the suspect allegedly jumped into the car and began to drive off.
As the suspect reportedly tried to drive away, the children s mother grabbed ahold of the steering wheel and tried to stop him. The victim was dragged on the roadway until finally letting go.
Another motorist happened to see the carjacking and trailed the suspect as he allegedly drove to 23 Goffle Road in Hawthorne, NJ. That s where the suspect reportedly took the children out of the car and then continued driving.
Fortunately, none of the children sustained any injuries as a result of the carjacking incident. They were evaluated at an area hospital and then released. Additionally, the mother received medical treatment for injuries she sustained while being dragged by the car.
The suspect, a 43-year-old East Hanover man, allegedly stole another car a few minutes after leaving the children on the side of the road. He reportedly stole the second car at a 7-Eleven on Goffle Road in Hawthorne.
Approximately two hours after allegedly carjacking the first car, the suspect was apprehended by police at the Westfield Garden State Plaza mall in Paramus, New Jersey.
If the suspect is ultimately convicted on carjacking charges, he would be subject to severe penalties. That s because N.J.S.A. 2C:15-2 classifies carjacking as a unique kind of first degree felony. Unlike other first degree crimes in New Jersey, carjacking carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in NJ State Prison.
For additional information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Carjacker Steals Car with 3 Kids Inside, Cops Say.”
