Hamden Carjacking Had New Haven Cops Use Real Time Crime Tech To Catch, Arrest 3

NEW HAVEN, CT — A late-night carjacking in Hamden led New Haven investigators, armed with advances in technology resources, located the stolen car in real time on Goffe Street, and using "successfully deployed" Star Chase and spike strips, pursued the stolen vehicle, which ultimately ended up crashing into a fence on North Place in West Haven. Three people inside the car tried unsuccessfully to flee, but were caught, arrested and charged.

It was around 9:20 p.m., when the New Haven Police Department's Criminal Intelligence and Shooting Task Force units were notified by the Hamden Police Department that a carjacking just occurred in their city, police wrote on "X."

According to police, the department's real-time crime center was able to locate the vehicle in the area of Goffe and Webster streets. Using the spike strips and Star Chase, police were able to stop the car and take three into custody.

Inside the car was a .40 caliber handgun, police said.

Taken into custody were Johnny Jones, 19, and Malachi MacFarlane, 18, and a 17 year-old juvenile, police said. They were charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, weapons in a vehicle, and interfering with police. Jones, who police said was driving, was also charged with engaging in a police pursuit, reckless driving, weapons in a motor vehicle, and carrying a pistol without a permit. MacFarlane and Jones were held on a $500,000 and $300,000 bonds, respectfully, police said, adding the juvenile was released to his mother.

"This is great police work. From Hamden notifying us of the carjacking then our use of technology to locate the vehicle safely deflate its tires and track it to West Haven, where we recovered the suspects and took a gun off the street," New Haven Chief of Police Karl Jacobson said. "I can’t speak highly enough about how our officers responded."