Teenage girl charged with carjacking in Dover

DOVER – A 17-year-old girl has been charged with carjacking a Pontiac at the train station and falsely reporting to police that she was chased by gunmen who wanted her purse.

The suspect, who lives in town but whose name was not released because she is a juvenile, was charged with carjacking and making false reports to law enforcement authorities after an investigation by Dover detectives, according to Detective Sgt. William Woodhull Jr.

The investigation started on April 30 when officers responded to the area of the Dover Train Station for a report of a carjacking. A 22-year-old male said he was approached by an unknown female who warned she had a gun and demanded his car keys or she would kill him, Woodhull said.

The victim at first ignored the suspect’s demand and tried to walk away but the female grabbed him, spun him towards her, and again demanded his keys while she removed what the victim believed to be a gun from her pocket.

The victim surrendered his keys to the female and she fled the area in his 2007 red Pontiac G6 sedan, Woodhull said.

Before the carjacking complaint came in, a female caller reported through 9-1-1 that she was being chased by two men who possessed a gun and were attempting to rob her of her purse. She said the attempt was occurring at the Dover High School, which is on the opposite side of town from the train station, Woodhull said.

Dover officers responded to the high school where they encountered individuals on school property and determined they were not involved in any robbery attempt. The individuals further said they did not see anyone else on the school property or hear screams for help. The officers also checked the surrounding area for suspects or a victim but located no one, Woodhull said.

Detective Michael Pier led an investigation that included various town officers and culminated in the arrest of the 17-year-old female. The probe revealed that the girl made the telephone call reporting the attempted robbery at the high school before the carjacking occurred, the release said.

She was charged with the juvenile delinquency acts of carjacking and false reports to law enforcement authorities. She was lodged in the Morris County Juvenile Detention Center.

The victim’s vehicle was later recovered about one-quarter mile from the suspect’s residence but personal items he had left in the vehicle were gone. The matter remains under investigation, Woodhull said.

Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@njpressmedia.com.