INDIANAPOLIS — An 18-year-old and two 16-year-olds were arrested in late September for their alleged role in two carjackings and a robbery, IMPD announced Tuesday.
Just after 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 26, a red Honda Civic was carjacked from the 3800 block of North Mitthoefer Road. Just before 11 p.m. that night, the car was used in a robbery in the 3700 block of East Washington Street, police said.
Frank Williams, the man the suspects robbed, told 13News he was in the area getting gas before heading home to Westfield.
“It was very scary,” Williams said.
Williams remembers a man coming over to his car. The stranger then asked him, “How old are you?” and said, “I don’t know how you want to handle this.”
“I stepped back further and that's when I got hit in the back of the head and then got hit in the front of the head and then turned around and I got peppered sprayed,” Williams said.
Williams then fell into his car and quickly took off. At the time, he could only see out of his right eye.
“Since the car was already running, I just slapped it into drive and punched it,” Williams said.
The suspects stole his phone before he could get away.
“If they had weapons, I could not even be here right now,” he said.
The suspects in both cases are believed to be the same people, IMPD said.
Detectives determined the carjacked vehicle may be in the Amber Woods apartment complex. On Sept. 27, IMPD robbery detectives, with assistance from other law enforcement, were conducting a follow-up investigation when they located the carjacked vehicle.
As officers attempted a traffic stop, the suspect fled in the car, leading to a short pursuit.
IMPD SWAT officers took two juveniles into custody without incident.
Detectives identified a third suspect in the case, 18-year-old Rodriguez Hunt, who was arrested without incident on Friday, Oct. 7.
All three suspects were arrested on a preliminary charge of robbery.
The suspects are also being investigated for a carjacking at 2040 E. Washington St. on Sept. 17, IMPD said.
The Marion County Prosecutor's Office will make final charging decisions in the case.
Investigations into the incidents are ongoing. Anyone with information on the incidents is asked to contact the IMPD Robbery Office at 317-327-3475.