Cranston, Rhode Island – The Cranston Police Department in Rhode Island successfully captured a suspect accused of a violent carjacking incident that took place on Friday morning. The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Matthew Figueroa Hernandez from Providence, was apprehended in North Kingstown following the disturbing incident.
Authorities have indicated that Hernandez will be facing multiple charges, including first-degree robbery, assault on a person over 60 resulting in serious bodily injury, domestic simple assault and battery, and domestic disorderly conduct. The arrest took place after a heavy police presence gathered at 133 Pontiac Avenue in response to a reported assault involving a 70-year-old male victim.
Reportedly, the victim was violently assaulted by the suspect after being flagged down by him. The suspect proceeded to pull the man out of his vehicle and launch a brutal assault before fleeing the scene in the stolen vehicle with a female companion. A witness in the neighborhood recounted how a young woman sought help from a neighbor, revealing that her brother had been involved in the violent attack on the driver.
Following the incident, the victim was promptly transported to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment of serious but non-life-threatening injuries sustained during the carjacking. Home surveillance footage was able to capture portions of the alarming altercation, aiding authorities in their search for the suspects and the stolen vehicle.
After an extensive search effort, the Cranston Police Department located both the suspects and the carjacked vehicle in North Kingstown. Hernandez was subsequently arranged by a bail commissioner and is currently being held without bail until his court arraignment scheduled for the following Monday.
Residents in the neighborhood where the incident took place expressed shock at the unusual occurrence, noting that it was a quiet area prior to the alarming events that unfolded on Friday morning. The recovery of the stolen vehicle and the apprehension of the suspects have brought a sense of relief to the local community, allowing residents to feel more secure in the wake of the unsettling incident.