UPDATED: Elderly Man Violently Assaulted in Cranston Carjacking - Police Apprehend Suspect

UPDATED: Elderly Man Violently Assaulted in Cranston Carjacking - Police Apprehend Suspect

Cranston Police say the suspect in a violent carjacking on Friday has been located and arrested. 

According to Cranston police, the stolen vehicle has been recovered and the suspect was taken into custody in North Kingstown.

The suspect is identified as Matthew Figueroa Hernandez, age 20, of 271 Admiral Street in Providence. 

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Hernandez will be charged with the following:

• First Degree Robbery (Occupied Motor Vehicle) 
• Assault on a Person Over 60 Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury
• Domestic Simple Assault and Battery 
• Domestic Disorderly Conduct 

A bail commissioner at Cranston Police Headquarters arraigned Hernandez and ordered him held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institution pending a formal court arraignment on Monday, March 18, 2024.  

 “I commend the detectives for their intensive efforts in solving a violent and senseless crime resulting in serious injury to one of our city’s senior residents," said Cranston Police Colonel Michael Winquist.

"Members of this police department take great pride in keeping the residents of Cranston safe, and random acts such as this are fortunately rare. When they occur, we will leverage all resources to bring the person responsible to justice. The victim, in this case, is in our thoughts, and we wish him a speedy and full recovery. I also want to thank the North Kingstown Police Department for assisting with the swift apprehension of the suspect.” 

 

Earlier on Friday morning, Cranston police has released the following: 

"At approximately 6:09 AM, an emergency call was received by the Cranston Police Department of an assault in progress in front of 133 Pontiac Avenue. 

Police said multiple Patrol Officers responded and encountered an elderly male who had multiple injuries from an apparent assault. 

A preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was traveling on Pontiac Avenue when a male subject flagged him down.

When he stopped, the suspect pulled him from his vehicle and violently assaulted him, according to police. The suspect fled the area in the stolen vehicle with a female subject. 

The victim was transported to Rhode Island Hospital, where he is being treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries."