Six Arrested in Connection with Carjackings

Correction appended 9:45 pm Monday.

Six people were arrested over the weekend for carjacking-related offenses,  with one arrest also netting a gun and significant quantities of narcotics, Newark police announced in a statement.

The first arrest occurred early Saturday, when police around 1:30 am chased a 2001 Chevy Impala reported carjacked Friday night. The vehicle, first spotted at Springfield Avenue and South 11th Street, was pursued to an empty lot in the area of Chadwick Avenue, where it stopped. The alleged driver, city resident Jahleel McLendon, 18, was captured in a nearby backyard after a short foot chase, police said. 

Police recovered a loaded 9mm Jennings handgun that McLendon* dropped while he was being chased on foot, police said. McLendon also allegedly had 46 glassine envelopes of heroin in his possession. He has been charged with resisting arrest, eluding, weapons possession, carjacking, aggravated assault, receiving stolen property and various narcotics offenses.

Later Saturday, at 7 am, police stopped a 2000 BMW 325i for a motor-vehicle violation on South 7th Street. After checking its registration police learned the vehicle had been carjacked in Newark.

The driver, 19-year-old Kareem Paterson of Newark, was arrested and charged with carjacking. The four passengers -- city residents Tyiane Rasberry, 24; Novell Douglas, 20; and a 17- and a 16-year-old -- were charged with receiving stolen property.
 
“I commend the officers involved in these apprehensions for their commitment in protecting the citizens of Newark,” said Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio.  “I am also pleased that they were able to remove these suspects from our streets before committing more acts of violence.”

*Correction -- McLendon's name was originally misspelled in one reference to him.