Man stole running car with 2-year-old inside, Newark cops say

NEWARK — Police have arrested the man they say stole a vehicle that was left unattended and running with a 2-year-old sleeping inside on Monday.

Sanders Martin Gomes, 40, has been arrested on multiple charges in the incident, including drug charges.

Police say they arrived on Ferry Street at about 2:30 p.m. and spoke to a a 24-year-old Union resident who reported that she parked her car with her 2-year-old daughter sleeping inside to unload groceries at a relative’s house. When she returned from one of her trips, her car was missing, police said.

Officers located her car minutes later, with her child still inside, less than 400 feet away on Adams Street, police said. The child appeared to be unharmed but was taken to University Hospital to be examined, police said.

The woman's cell phone was also stolen during the incident.

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Police said they got a tip that Martin Gomes, who'd been a suspect in the incident, was getting a haircut at at Newark barbershop. He was also wanted on outstanding warrants.

Police said they arrested him without incident, and charged him with carjacking, endangering the welfare of a child. possession of a controlled dangerous substance (six glassine envelopes of heroin, a vial of crack cocaine and a small container of cocaine).

Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose said last week the carjacking was “a careless and reckless act which endangered a child.” He said the incident was preventable and that he has been cautioning residents about the dangers of leaving their car running and unattended.

“Approximately 32 percent of the cars stolen in Newark so far this year were left running. This problem is not unique to Newark. It is problematic throughout the state. With a little common sense, many crimes like this one can be prevented. Everyone has to be thankful that this didn’t end with tragic results,” Ambrose said in a statement.