2 teens arrested in connection with Baltimore carjackings
Two teens were arrested in connection with two separate carjacking incidents in Baltimore, police said.
Officers were called to the 1300 block of East Eager Street around 9 p.m. Thursday for a reported armed carjacking of a moped.
Police arrived to learn that a 44-year-old man was sitting on his moped when two suspects approached, one possibly armed with a gun.
The suspects moved the man from his moped and fled the scene, police said.
Officers arrested the two suspects in East Baltimore in connection with a separate robbery of a moped in the 1600 block of Rutland Avenue that occurred on the same day, officials said.
The suspects were identified as a 16-year-old and a 14-year-old boy, police said.
The 16-year-old was taken to Central Booking and was charged with armed robbery. The 14-year-old was taken to the Juvenile Justice Center and placed on an ankle monitor, police said.
The arrests came one day after a 10-year-old was taken into custody after crashing a stolen car in East Baltimore. A video on social media appeared to show two young children in a vehicle before it sped off. Police are working to verify the video and determine if it's connected to the juvenile arrest.
The 10-year-old was taken into custody and later released to the custody of a guardian after he crashed the stolen car into a stop sign, police said. A 12-year-old passenger was in the car at the time, officers said. No injuries were reported.
City residents react to juvenile crime
"Kids need something to do with their time...something positive," said Phillip, an East Baltimore resident.
Another resident, Jennifer Arnold, says someone needs to take accountability for the juvenile crime after witnessing the video of the children's joyride.
"Somebody's got to be accountable for it. I mean, I'm old, and I can't even drive that good," Arnold said. Come on now! It's very disrespectful."
While Jennifer says it's a matter of accountability, Phillip says these incidents speak to a broader issue. He says kids need structure and positive outlets.
"It's really crazy," he remarked. "What is there for a 10-year-old kid to do?"
Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Cogen says the police department, in partnership with community organizations like the Maryland SPCA and the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), is launching a juvenile diversion pilot program to curb juvenile disturbances.
