Essex County 13-Year-Old Charged With Maplewood and Newark Carjackings

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A Newark teen was arrested twice in a 48-hour period over the weekend and charged in connection with alleged carjackings in Newark and Maplewood, authorities say.

According to Newark police, the 13-year-old male was charged in connection with an alleged carjacking in the city’s North Ward on Friday after detectives found him in possession of three key fobs that were not his, one of which was matched to the stolen car. Police charged him with carjacking, possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes.

“On Friday after his arrest, the courts ordered his release, although the teenager was being investigated for his involvement in carjackings in Orange and Maplewood [as well as Newark],” the Newark Department of Public Safety stated in a news release.

Newark police released the teen to the custody of a relative on Friday, authorities said.

On Sunday - less than 48 hours later - Maplewood police re-arrested the teen and charged him with carjacking a BMW in their town along with Justyn Knight, 22, of Newark.

Newark police stated that their Maplewood counterparts located the stolen BMW on 19th Street on Sunday and observed the teen and Knight near the car, allegedly holding an item taken from the carjacking victim.

Maplewood police processed and charged the two males and turned them over to Newark police, who were “actively seeking the teen” when officers located him, authorities said.

Police said that anyone with information about the investigation or any other crime can contact the Department's 24-hour toll-free Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867).

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