17-Year-Old Charged in Strong-Arm Carjacking

Takoma Park Police say they have charged a 17-year-old male from the District in connection with a strong-arm carjacking that took place earlier this month.

Police in Fairfax County, Va. have also charged this teen, a second teen, and two adults who were involved with various offenses, including felony Grand Larceny and felony Possession of Stolen Property.

Officers responded at approximately 7:32 p.m. on Feb. 9 to the area of Westmoreland Ave. and Carroll Ave. for a report of a carjacking, police spokesperson Cathy Plevy said in an emailed community advisory. In his parked vehicle on Westmoreland Ave., the victim was working when he was approached by three suspects who walked from Carroll Ave. onto Westmoreland Ave. As the suspects approached the driver’s side door, they opened it and ordered the victim to exit. The victim complied and the three suspects fled in the vehicle towards Carroll Ave. and made a right turn.

All of the victim’s work tools were inside the vehicle, Plevy said.

The 400 block of Elm Ave. was canvassed by officers after a call was received that various items were scattered in the roadway. The officers were able to collect the items and determine that they indeed belonged to the victim.

At approximately 10:14 p.m. on Feb. 10, a Takoma Park Police detective responded to Fairfax County Police regarding the recovered carjacked vehicle that was stolen from Westmoreland Ave. the previous evening. Undercover units of Fairfax County Police located the stolen vehicle in front of a shopping center, and four suspects were apprehended.

A total of four suspects were involved in the case, two of whom were 18-year-old adults and two of whom were 17 years old. One of the 17-year-olds, who is from the District, was responsible for the carjacking in Takoma Park.

One teen was released into the custody of his parents. The other teen arrested for the carjacking is being held in a juvenile detention center. The two adults are being held at an adult detention center, Plevy said.