Monmouth County Man Stole Cash Drawer, Carjacked Woman, Police Say

An Aberdeen man stole a cash register drawer from a supermarket, then ran to the parking lot, where he pushed a driver out of her car and stole the vehicle, police said.

He drove away, crashed into a retaining wall, then limped away from the crash scene, carrying the cash drawer, police said.

But officers soon caught him and placed him under arrest, according to a news release from Chief John T. Powers.

Donell Freeman, 39, of Nathan Court, Aberdeen, was charged with robbery, carjacking, driving while intoxicated, driving while suspended, and other motor vehicle offenses.

According to the news release:

Around 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, officers were called to the A&P store on Route 35 on a report of a robbery in progress.

When officers arrived, they were told a man - later identified as Freeman -- shoved an employee out of the way, snatched a cash register drawer, and ran out of the store.

In the parking lot, he ran to a Ford Taurus, pushed a 33-year-old woman out of the car, and drove away, heading east on Cliffwood Avenue, across Route 35.

Police headed in that direction and were soon told that a car had crashed into a retaining wall near South Concourse and Beachwood Way.

Residents saw Freeman limping away from the crash scene, carrying the cash drawer.

He was taken into custody, and later transported to Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel, where he was treated for a leg injury.

He was then sent to the Monmouth County jail, with bail set at $350,000.

No one else was injured, police said.

Officers Matthew McDow, Raymond Campbell, Bart Szulczynski, and Sgt. Darrell Oliver handled the arrest.