ENGLISHTOWN: At approximately 9:00 am yesterday a Manalapan woman was inside her vehicle, a 2015 Mazda 3, parked in the parking lot of Walgreens, 2 Gordons Corner Road, Englishtown, when she was approached by three individuals who forced her from her vehicle and left with the vehicle eastbound on Gordons Corner Road towards Route 9. The victim immediately called 9-1-1 and was initially assisted by a Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Telecommunicator who dispatched Patrolman Cynthia Buckel to the carjacking incident and notified surrounding agencies of the carjacking that just occurred in our jurisdiction. Unbeknownst to the assailants at the time, the victim was waiting on assistance from Triple A to change a flat tire that had just occured to her vehicle. After fleeing with the vehicle eastbound on Gordons Corner Road into Manalapan the assailants realized that the vehicle was disabled and pulled into the Congregation Sons of Israel parking lot, 33 Gordons Corner Road. It was not long before police units from the Manalapan Police Department came upon the vehicle and all three assailants were detained. Ptl. Buckel arrived on scene shortly thereafter and placed all three under arrest. The assailants, who failed to have any ID on them provided little information to the arresting officer or to Detective-Corporal Dinicola who conducted interviews of the assailants. The assailants are two black adult males ages 20 and 18 and one black transgender female aged 19. They claim to be from Brooklyn, but our investigation is ongoing and not complete. Our investigation is indicating that the three assailants may have been involved in other criminal activity in the area prior to their carjacking of the victim here in Englishtown. If you believe that you may be a victim and your residence is in Englishtown please report it to our department by calling 732-446-7000. If you believe that you may be a victim and your residence is in Manalapan please report it to the Manalapan Police Department by calling 732-446-4300. As noted above this is an ongoing investigation and not complete. Charges are pending. When charges are filed we will update the public with the charges filed and the status of the assailants. The Englishtown Police Department wishes to extended their gratitude for the assistance provided by the Telecommunicators at the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and by the Officers of the Manalapan Police Department.

UPDATED INFORMATION:

No weapon was used or shown at the time of the carjacking. When the assailants forced the door open the victim fled on foot. The victim, fortunately, was not physically harmed during the incident. As noted, the investigation is ongoing and not complete. Charges are still pending. Check back for more updates.

FINAL UPDATE THIS EVENING

Another local agency is currently investigating and interviewing the assailants from this incident in relation to some criminal activity that happened in their jurisdiction prior to our incident here in Englishtown. The assailants are still in custody and are facing multiple charges from this jurisdiction. An update tomorrow will follow with a complete list of charges and the status of the assailants. Good night.

THURSDSY MORNING UPDATE

The following were charged and are currently housed at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution awaiting a bail hearing before a Judge from the Monmouth County Vicinage.

Hazma Williams DOB 10/28/2003

2C:15-2A(2) carjacking 1st degree crime
2C:20-3A theft of a motor vehicle 3rd degree crime
2C:5-2A conspiracy to commit a crime 1st degree
2C:20-3A theft of property 4th degree
2C:29-3b(4) Hindering own apprehension 4th degree

Rayj Durant DOB 10/01/2002

2C:15-2A(2) carjacking 1st degree crime
2C:20-3A theft of a motor vehicle 3rd degree crime
2C:5-2A conspiracy to commit a crime 1st degree
2C:20-3A theft of property 4th degree

Tyler Lares DOB 12/12/2003

2C:15-2A(2) carjacking 1st degree crime
2C:20-3A theft of a motor vehicle 3rd degree crime
2C:5-2A conspiracy to commit a crime 1st degree
2C:20-3A theft of property 4th degree

All 3 subjects made a verbal admission to their involvement in the carjacking during their interview.