Following Chase, Carjacking Suspect Arrested Saturday

An off-duty police officer aided in the Dec. 29 arrest of a man suspected of a carjacking a day earlier, Newark police said in a statement.

A woman was sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked 2011 Honda Accord around 10:40 pm Dec. 28 when a man with a handgun approached her and ordered her out. The carjacking occurred in the North Ward, police said.

A few hours later, around 1 am, an off-duty police officer spotted the vehicle traveling near Mulberry and Market streets and radioed the car’s location to the police dispatch desk, which sent units to the area.

The motorist allegedly fled from police, striking several parked cars before abandoning the vehicle and fleeing on foot with two other occupants of the car.

Police captured one of the suspects, 20-year-old Corey Thermitus of Newark, who was allegedly carrying a loaded Kel-Tec 9mm handgun. He was charged with possession of a weapon, possession of hollow point bullets, carjacking, robbery and resisting arrest.  More charges may be pending, police said.
 
“The actions of all the officers involved resulted in the apprehension of not only a criminal wanted for a carjacking but also the removal of a loaded handgun off our city streets.  Their dedication to service and to the residents of Newark has to be commended,” said Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio.