Howell Police Arrest Man in Freehold Carjacking

The Howell Police Department arrested a Freehold man on Tuesday night following an incident that started in Freehold Borough, went through Freehold Township and eventually ended in Howell.

According to a report in the Asbury Park Press Michael Lopez was charged with carjacking after he and another person allegedly took a taxi to a condominium complex in Freehold Township. The pair are then believed to have robbed and assaulted the driver before taking the car to Howell.

Detective Sgt. Eileen Dodd of the Howell Police Department reported the taxi was spotted by Patrolman Phil Thompson heading south on Route 9 while the officer was headed north. The suspects were then seen turning onto Sunnyside Road before making a “quick right hand turn” on West 1st Street.

Dodd said the suspects made the turn too fast and crashed into a tree which started a fire in the engine compartment. The suspects attempted to flee on foot before Thompson was able to catch Lopez and turn him over to the Freehold Township Police Department.

The second suspect has yet to be apprehended after a search by local officers, a K-9 unit and a New Jersey State Police Helicopter were called in to assist. The Freewood Acres Fire Department was also called in to put out the car fire.