Gardens teen charged as adult in carjacking
Police say he was one of two who did crime on Dec 15.
WEST PALM BEACH — A Palm Beach Gardens teen is being charged as an adult in connection with a carjacking that occurred last month.
Darnell Matthews, 17, was transferred from juvenile custody Friday to the Palm Beach Count y Jail to face charges of armed carjacking, aggravated assault and fleeing and eluding. He remained in custody Tuesday morning after a judge set his bail at $5,000.
West Palm Beach police say Matthews was one of two who carjacked a couple on the night of Dec. 15. Matthews and Reginald Rejus, 19, of West Palm Beach, were arrested the night of the incident as responding officers pursued the stolen vehicle into Riviera Beach.
Officers found the vehicle in the area of 50th Way and Village Boulevard. A pursuit continued until the vehicle stopped about 200 yards east of Avenue J on Blue Heron Boulevard.
Rejus allegedly admitted to being involved in the robbery and possessing a Smith & Wesson 9mm firearm. Matthews allegedly confessed to possessing a Ruger P89 with the extended magazine. He denied pulling out his firearm and told investigators Rejus was the one robbed the accuser of his keys, police said.
Matthews and Rejus are a mong four te e ns i n t he West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens areas who have been arrested on carjacking charges recently.
A 17-year-old Palm Beach Gardens-area teen is being charged as an adult for his alleged role in a Dec. 10 carjacking west of the city. Christian Cagle remains on house arrest as he awaits trial.
West Palm Beach police arrested a 14-year-old boy in connection to an alleged carjacking Dec. 14 on South Dixie Highway. Police say the teen pointed a gun at a man’s head and stole his car. Police also arrested a 22-yearold man in connection with a Dec. 26 carjacking near Howard Park. Dionte Lee Garrett remains in custody.
A 15 -ye a r- o l d a l s o was a r r e s t e d o n c a r j a c k i n g charges in November following incidents in Lake Worth and West Palm Beach. The teen was arrested in Lake Park.