A SWAT team recently apprehended a man wanted in connection with a violent carjacking, kidnapping, and assault of a taxi driver in Ridgewood, New Jersey.
The scary incident occurred during the early morning hours on December 26, 2015. According to authorities, four men hailed a cab in Paterson NJ and told the driver to take them to Waldwick, NJ. When the taxi passed through Ridgewood NJ, the suspects asked the driver to stop. That s when they allegedly committed a violent attack.
The suspects allegedly forced the victim into the backseat of the taxi. They then allegedly stole all of his cash and took multiple possessions, including his watch and his cell phone. One of the men also allegedly held a handgun to the victim s head and threatened to kill him.
After threatening the victim, the suspects reportedly drove to the NY State Thruway. When they got to the highway, the suspects allegedly used a knife to stab the victim in the neck. They also allegedly used a handgun to pistol whip the victim across the face.
The violent incident ended when the suspects reportedly threw the victim out of the cab and onto the side of the road in Tuxedo, New York.
The victim was later rushed to a nearby hospital, where he received medical treatment for his injuries. Although his injuries were considered serious, medical officials said that they were not considered life threatening.
Meanwhile, local police and FBI agents were able to locate and arrest three of the suspects, but they could not find the fourth suspect.
Now police have arrested a fourth man in connection with the case. The 19-year-old suspect, who lives in Suffern, New York, was found by police at his residence. When SWAT team officers searched the home, they reportedly found the suspect hiding in a closet.
NJ law enforcement officials later said that the suspect is a dangerous criminal who is a member of the 18th Street Gang.
The suspect has been charged with numerous crimes, including carjacking, kidnapping, aggravated assault, robbery, and weapons offenses.
After being arrested and processed, the suspect was taken to the Passaic County Jail in Paterson NJ. He was being held at the jail on a massive $400K bail amount, with no 10-percent cash option available.
To learn more about this case, view the NJ.com article, “Reputed Gang Member Found in Closet Charged with N.J. Kidnapping, Police Say.”
