A Dozen Carjacking Suspects Arrested

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and Newark police announced the arrest of 12 people accused of committing several carjackings in the county since June, the agencies said in a statement Thursday.

Five of the suspects are under the age of 18, including three 15-year-olds. One of the adult suspects, a Newark man, has been charged with a total of five armed carjackings this summer. Five of the suspects are from the city, while the majority of the carjackings the entire group is charged with occured here.

“Carjackings pose a serious threat to the well-being of the community,’’ said Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray. “We have been working closely with our federal partners, the New Jersey State Police and the Newark and Irvington police departments to apprehend those who would prey on innocent people going about their daily business in Essex County.”

“I commend the Essex County Carjacking Task Force for their diligent work in arresting these individuals who have wreaked havoc in our neighborhoods through their random and violent attacks,” said Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio. “I hope that their arrests sends a dual message to both the criminals and community alike.  The Newark Police Department and its law enforcement partners are working together, sharing both information and resources in an effort to reduce and prevent crime.”

The adults arrested are:

Antonio Feliciano, 19, of Irvington was charged with an armed carjacking on July 4, on Adams Street.

Keywan Hudson, 26, of Newark was arrested and charged by members of the Major Crimes Task Force with an armed carjacking on July 4, on William Street.

Fitim Bitic, 46, of Perth Amboy was arrested and charged by members of the Major Crimes Task Force with a carjacking which occurred on July 17, on Orchard Street.

Lamar Cavaness, 21, of Newark was arrested and charged by members of the Major Crimes Task Force with an armed carjacking which occurred on July 21, on Kearny Street.

Jihad Shariah, 25, of Elizabeth was charged with an armed carjacking with a gun which occurred on August 13, on Haynes Avenue.

Jihad McRae, 18, of Newark was charged with an armed carjacking which occurring June 30 on South 6th Street.

Jahleel McLendon, 18, of Newark was arrested by patrol officers from the Newark Police Department and charged with a June 30 carjacking on Springfield Avenue.

McClendon was later charged with four other carjackings, one on Clinton Avenue and another on Springfield Avenue, both occurring June 15. The third occurred on South 19th  Street on June 9, and the fourth took place on South Orange Avenue on June 6.

The youths arrested include a 15-year-old from Newark, who was charged with an armed carjacking with a gun occurring  August 12 on North 7th Street.

Another 15-year-old, from Irvington, was arrested and charged with armed carjacking on August 19 on Cutler Street.

A third 15-year-old, also from Irvington, was charged with an armed carjacking on August 19, on Linden Avenue in Irvington.

Two juveniles from East Orange, ages 16 and 17, were arrested by patrol officers from East Orange along with patrol officers from Orange and charged with armed carjackings that occurred on August 22.