3 Nabbed In Englishtown Parking Lot Carjacking: Police

ENGLISHTOWN, NJ - Three individuals were arrested and charged Wednesday in connection with a carjacking in the parking lot of an Englishtown Walgreens store, authorities said.

The carjacking took place Wednesday at around 9 a.m., in which a Manalapan woman sitting inside a 2015 Mazda 3 was approached by three actors who forced her out of her vehicle, Englishtown police said. The individuals then left with the vehicle eastbound on Gordons Corner Road towards Route 9.

However, the accused parties did not know the victim was waiting on Triple A to change a flat tire at the time of the carjacking; upon noticing the flat tire, the individuals pulled the vehicle into Congregation Sons of Israel parking lot at 33 Gordons Corner Road, police said.

“It was not long before police units from the Manalapan Police Department came upon the vehicle and all three assailants were detained,” Englishtown police said.

No weapon was used or shown at the time of the carjacking, and the victim was not injured during the incident, police said.

Police on Thursday provided information on the charges against the persons arrested:

• Hazma Williams, 19: carjacking 1st degree; theft of a motor vehicle 3rd degree; conspiracy to commit a crime, 1st degree; theft of property, 4th degree; hindering own apprehension, 4th degree.
• Rayj Durant, 20: carjacking 1st degree; theft of a motor vehicle, 3rd degree; conspiracy to commit a crime, 1st degree; theft of property, 4th degree.
• Tyler Lares, 20: carjacking, 1st degree; theft of a motor vehicle, 3rd degree; conspiracy to commit a crime, 1st degree; theft of property, 4th degree.

Information on addresses for those arrested was not released.

All three suspects made a verbal admission to their involvement in the carjacking during their interview, police said Thursday. Police said the three are currently housed at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold, awaiting a detention hearing.

Another local agency is investigating another incident reportedly involving the same subjects sometime prior to the carjacking in Englishtown, police said.

Charges are pending and the investigation is ongoing, police added.

Englishtown residents who believe they may be a victim of a crime can report to the Englishtown Police Department at 732-446-7000. Manalapan residents can report incidents to the Manalapan Police Department at 732-446-4300.