ELIZABETH, N.J. (1010WINS) – A New Jersey man was charged after he allegedly carjacked a taxi driver and shoplifted from a Home Depot in Linden on Monday.
The incident took place around noon when two men called a taxi to take them to the home improvement store.
One man, identified by police as Manuel Martinho, 51, went into the store. The taxi driver waited outside while Martinho came back carrying merchandise and loaded it into the trunk of the taxi.
The 78-year-old taxi driver was headed to Elizabeth on Route 1 with Martinho and the second man when the taxi dispatcher warned him to return to the store, police said.
Martinho then beat up the driver and stole the vehicle, according to police.
“The men screamed at the driver to ignore the order, but when the driver made the U-turn Martinho allegedly began punching (the driver) repeatedly until he fell out of the vehicle,” police said.
The victim was treated on scene for minor injuries.
The stolen taxi was later found near West Jersey Street in Elizabeth with 23 rolls of Romex wiring worth $3,500 inside.
The second suspect remains at large.
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