Driver Carjacked At Gunpoint With Toddler In The Car In South Jersey: Police

MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ — Two people carjacked a taxi driver at gunpoint as they fled from police in Gloucester County earlier this month, authorities said. A toddler was in the car with them.

The suspects — Philadelphia residents Darrin M. Mitchell and Damia Darrah — conducted the carjacking Sept. 9 in Monroe Township, police said. They both fled the scene after stealing the driver's vehicle but were arrested in the ensuing days, according to law enforcement.

Police were first called about a shoplifting in progress at the local Walmart around 1:40 p.m. Sept. 9. The male suspect — later identified as Mitchell — told an employee that he had a gun, authorities said.

Mitchell and a female suspect — later identified as Darrah — entered a taxi and fled the scene, police said. A patrol officer found the vehicle and pulled it over on E. Malaga Road at Winslow Road — about a mile away from Walmart.

The taxi driver stopped the vehicle for police. Then, Mitchell pressed an object to his back, claimed it was a gun and ordered the driver to flee, authorities said.

The victim bailed from the vehicle. Mitchell then entered the driver's seat and fled from the vehicle stop with Darrah and a toddler, police said.

Police didn't specify the toddler's relationship to anyone involved.

The vehicle fled to Philadelphia, and police did not pursue it.

Detectives opened an investigation and identified both suspects. Their findings were later backed by latent prints recovered from the stolen vehicle, police said.

Arrest warrants were issued for both suspects.

Mitchell, 31, was arrested Sept. 13 on unrelated warrants in Philadelphia. He was charged with carjacking, robbery, endangering the welfare of a child, eluding and shoplifting.

Darrah, 32, was arrested Wednesday in Philadelphia. She was charged with five separate counts of conspiracy — to commit robbery, commit carjacking, to endanger the welfare of a child, to elude police and to commit shoplifting.

Both were jailed in Pennsylvania, with extradition to New Jersey pending.

Online court records didn't list attorneys for the suspects on Tuesday.

To report anonymous crime information to Monroe Township police, call 856-875-2940 or email crimetips@monroetwppd.org. For incidents requiring immediate police assistance, call the police department at 856-728-0800. For emergencies or a crime in progress, call 911.