Carjacker Threatened To Drive Away With Kids Still Inside Vehicle, Newark Police Say

NEWARK, NJ — A carjacker who allegedly threatened to drive off with two juveniles in Newark last weekend has been arrested, police announced Wednesday.

According to the Newark Department of Public Safety, the carjacking took place on the 100-block of Bloomfield Avenue around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The owner of the vehicle left a woman and two juveniles – ages 4 and 17 – inside a parked car while he went into a nearby store. That’s when Pedro Salazar, 28, of Newark, got into the car through the front driver’s side door, authorities alleged.

Salazar demanded that the woman – who was sitting in the front passenger seat – get out of the vehicle or he’d drive off with the two juveniles, who were sitting in the back seat, police said.

The woman and children got out of the car, and Salazar drove away eastbound on Bloomfield Avenue, authorities said.

Police traced the carjacked vehicle with a tracker, locating it on Mt. Prospect Place. When Salazar became aware of the officers’ presence, he drove away northbound, hitting a parked vehicle and traveling to the 500-block of Clifton Avenue. He then got out of the car and fled through several backyards on Clifton Avenue and Ridge Street.

Officers apprehended Salazar on the 500-block of Parker Street and safely took him into custody, authorities said.

Salazar has been charged with carjacking, police said.

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