Accused Carjacker Nabbed, Firearm Recovered

Solid police work prevented a Newark man who carjacked a delivery van in the South Ward Saturday morning from escaping with the goods, Newark police said.

According to the department, a delivery driver was stocking his van at the intersection of Shaw Avenue and Leslie Street when a man brandishing a gun demanded his keys and money.

The robber was quickly located on Bergen Street by an undercover officer, who followed the van and called for backup, police said.

The robber, identified as convicted felon Darnal Smith, 40, fled after multiple police cars boxed the van in on Porter Street, police said. He was chased down and arrested.

The victim later identified Smith as the carjacker, police said. A 9 mm hand gun was recovered from the van, according to the NPD.

"Today's arrest was a result of excellent police work and communication between our patrol officers and those in our dispatch center," Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio said in a statement. "As we focus our efforts on reducing violent crime, these arrests will bolster our efforts and serve as a testament to our commitment to weed out the criminal element in our neighborhoods."

Smith, of Newark, is facing charges of robbery, carjacking, weapons and resisting arrest.