Charges filed by Lawrence police after Sunday arrest.
By: Lea Kahn
A Trenton man faces multiple charges, including carjacking and weapons offenses, in connection with two carjacking incidents that occurred in March and April, according to township police.
Garrick D. Brown of Trenton has been charged with two counts each of carjacking, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, aggravated assault and receiving stolen property, plus one count of simple assault, police Detective William Eggert said. He was charged with simple assault for allegedly striking one victim in the face with his gun.
Mr. Brown allegedly held up the driver of a late-model Mercedes-Benz sedan at gunpoint in the 1600 block of Princeton Avenue March 11, Detective Eggert said. He abandoned the stolen car he was driving and took off in the Mercedes-Benz.
On April 3, Mr. Brown allegedly carjacked another late-model Mercedes-Benz sedan from its owner on Avalon Way at gunpoint, Detective Eggert said. Again, he abandoned the stolen car he was driving and left in the Mercedes-Benz.
Both Mercedes-Benzes stolen in Lawrence have been recovered.
Mr. Brown was charged with one count of simple assault in the Avalon Way case because he allegedly struck the driver — a pregnant woman — in the face with his gun, the detective said.
Mr. Brown also faces carjacking charges in connection with an incident that occurred in Middletown Township, Pa., last week, according to published reports. He was apprehended by Philadelphia police Sunday morning in the Lexus RX300 sport utility vehicle that police say he carjacked from its owner at a Middletown Township shopping mall. Middletown Township police contacted Detective Eggert after Mr. Brown’s arrest Sunday.
Detective Eggert said he had suspected the same person was involved in the two Lawrence carjacking incidents before Mr. Brown was arrested, based on the physical description of the thief and the description of a gun he displayed in both Lawrence incidents.
The Township Police Department’s evidence technicians recovered fingerprints from three of the four cars involved in the Lawrence incidents. Based on those fingerprints, Detective Eggert said, he issued warrants for Mr. Brown’s arrest.