FREEHOLD – A Springfield, Massachusetts man was arrested Monday for carjacking and other offenses, township police said.
Maxim Kuropatkin, 24, was charged with carjacking, robbery, criminal attempt robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and criminal mischief. He was lodged in the Monmouth County Jail pending a bail detention hearing, Det. Lt. Scot Hall said.
Police responded to the Sam’s Club parking lot July 1 after a vehicle was reportedly stolen. Kuropatkin crashed the car while attempting to flee the area, and was detained by “Good Samaritans and Walmart Loss Prevention until patrol officers arrived on the scene,” Hall said.
Police said Kuropatkin attempted to take items from a 52-year-old township woman in the parking lot, but was scared off when the woman got in her vehicle and started honking the horn. He then approached an 83-year-old woman exiting her vehicle and demanded the keys. He took the keys and knocked the woman to the ground. It is then he crashed the car and was detained by onlookers.
Witnesses are asked to contact PO Kevin Cross 732-462-7908 ext. 6263 or Det. William Ketelaar of the Freehold Township Police Dept at 732-294-2110.
