A 27-year-old Newark man was arrested after he attempted to carjack at least three people in Hillside as he tried to flee from police.
Officers were called to a Stanley Terrace home after a resident at that location reportedly left the residence sometime around 2 p.m. to escape from an armed male - wearing a bright colored traffic type jacket - in an allegedly stolen Audi.
Hillside police immediately responded to the area to search for the suspect.
Just before police arrived, the suspect ran to a woman sitting on the front steps of a Bernard Terrace home, pointed a gun at her, and demanded the keys to her car.
Upon hearing, police headed his way he then fled to Memorial Drive (across from police headquarters), where he pointed a gun at drivers of two different vehicles in attempts of carjacking the vehicles.
Officers canvassing the area located and apprehended the suspect, later identified as Harold M. Carter, 27, of Newark.
Minutes later, detectives recovered the .40 caliber handgun that Carter reportedly tried to discard.
There were no injuries reported.
Police charged Carter with burglary, carjacking, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest and may face additional charges upon completion of a full investigation.
Detectives are working in collaboration with the Newark Police Department to look into any other crimes Carter may have committed in Newark as well.
Carter is being held at Hillside police headquarters pending transport to the Union County Jail.