Man Charged After Carjacking Attempt In Freehold Township: Police

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Massachusetts man who authorities say knocked an 83-year-old woman to the ground and tried to steal her car in the Sam's Club parking lot has been charged with carjacking, Freehold Township police said.

Maxim Kuropatkin, 24, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was arrested Monday about 11 a.m. after he crashed the car into a tree and Good Samaritans and Walmart loss prevention officers held him until police arrived, Detective Lt. Scot Hall said Tuesday.

Hall said Kuropatkin first tried to take items from a 52-year-old Freehold Township woman in the Sam’s Club parking lot, but that woman got in her car and started honking her horn, drawing the attention of several other patrons in the lot and scaring Kuropatkin off.

He then approached the 83-year-old Freehold Township resident, who was getting out of her car in the same area. He demanded her keys and knocked her to the ground, then took off in her car, Hall said. But Kuropatkin didn't get far, Hall said; he lost control and hit a tree.

Several Good Samaritans witnessed the incident and crash and followed Kuropatkin as he got out and ran into the adjacent Walmart store, where he was detained until Freehold Township officers arrived and arrested him without further incident, Hall said.

Patrol Officers and Detectives from the Freehold Township Police secured the area and found there was no further threat to the community.

Kuropatkin was charged with carjacking, robbery, criminal attempt robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and criminal mischief. He remained in the Monmouth County Jail Tuesday pending a bail detention hearing.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Police Officer Kevin Cross 732-462-7908 ext. 6263 or Detective William Ketelaar of the Freehold Township Police Department at 732-294-2110.

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