Suspect picked up at Mount’s Motel.
By: Lea Kahn
A man who carjacked a New York City woman’s car in Princeton Borough last week was apprehended Jan. 22 at Mount’s Motel on Route 1, according to township police.
Christopher Powell, 33, of Rochester, N.Y., was charged with receiving stolen property because he had the stolen car in his possession, police said. He also was charged with robbery for an alleged failed attempt to hold up the Denny’s Restaurant at 2:56 a.m. Jan. 22. The restaurant is located on Route 1 near the Mercer Mall.
Patrolman James Smith was driving through the parking lot at Mount’s Motel on routine patrol shortly after 10 a.m. Jan. 22 when he noticed a car that matched the description of the stolen 1992 Mercury Topaz, police Lt. Mark Boy said.
A check of the license plate revealed that it had been reported stolen from its owner, 61-year-old Rosemary O’Connell of New York City. Ms. O’Connell was sitting in the car on Nassau Street in Princeton Borough at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 20 when a man opened the passenger side door, got in the car and threatened her with a gun. She jumped out of the car and he drove off.
Having learned that the car was the one involved in the carjacking incident, Patrolman Smith called for backup police officers at the motel. The officers knocked on the motel room door and arrested Mr. Powell without incident. Police did not find any weapons in the motel room or in the car, Lt. Boyd said.
Shortly before police discovered the stolen car at Mount’s Motel, a Lawrence Middle School student found the Ms. O’Connell’s wallet in the street on the way to school, Lt. Boyd said.
The student gave the wallet to Patrolman David Burns, who is assigned to the school as the school resource officer. Patrolman Burns took the wallet to police headquarters.
It appeared that Mr. Powell tried to get rid of some of the victim’s belongings by dumping them out the car window, Lt. Boyd said.
Mr. Powell also was charged in connection with an attempted holdup at the Denny’s Restaurant on Route 1 at 2:56 a.m. Jan. 22, Lt. Boyd said. The robber did not get any money.
The robber entered the restaurant, walked up to the cash register and threatened the male cashier. He told the cashier he had a weapon and that he would use it if the cashier did not give him some money, Lt. Boyd said.
The cashier ran to the back of the restaurant and the robber left without any money. No weapon was displayed and no one was injured, police said.
In addition to the charges filed by Lawrence police, the Princeton Borough Police Department charged Mr. Powell with first-degree carjacking, issuing terroristic threats against Ms. O’Connell, criminal restraint and possession of stolen property.

