Newark Police Fugitive Unit Makes Robbery, Carjacking Arrests

Four people wanted for robbery and carjacking were arrested this past week by members of the Newark Police Department’s fugitive apprehension task force, the department announced in a statement.

On Jan 9, a 41-year-old woman was attacked by a 15-year-old city youth and two women, who punched and kicked her before stealing two cell phones and cash. The victim spotted the youth Feb. 4 in front of 86 Brunswick St. and notified police, who was arrested after being identified by the victim.

Early on the morning of Feb. 7, police arrested Majid Wheeler, 18, at an 18th Avenue address. Wheeler was wanted for a Jan. 6 carjacking of a woman near 53 Hermon St. Another suspect in that incident is still at large.

Also on Feb. 7, Nasir Brown, 27, was arrested at a N. Munn Avenue home and charged for his alleged involvement in a carjacking Nov. 17, 2012. Brown was a passenger in a car being driven by a 35-year-old city man, who entered the parking lot at 174 Court St. Police said Brown then pulled out a gun, pistol-whipped the victim and took the vehicle. Brown has been charged with assault, carjacking and weapons offenses.

 A few of hours later, shortly before 10 am, members of the fugitive apprehension section arrested 52-year-old Barry Austin of Newark at 286 Martin Luther King Blvd. Austin was wanted for the assault and robbery of a 49 year-old disabled man on Feb. 4 at the Stephen Crane home for the elderly. Austin reportedly knocked the victim to the floor and kicked him repeatedly before taking the victim's cash and fleeing the apartment.

"The majority of our crime is committed by a very small percentage of our community, many of whom are repeat and habitual offenders,” said Police Director Samuel DeMaio. “By tracking and arresting those individuals that we know are wanted for crimes we are often preventing additional crimes by these offenders. This unit's contributions to our Department's overall crime prevention and reduction efforts is invaluable."