Brooklyn Man Car Jacks a Woman at Putnam Hospital Center
A female Putnam Hospital Center (PHC) employee was the victim of a carjacking on Halloween, according to the Carmel Police Department.
Carmel police report that on Wednesday, Oct. 31 a male patient, who had been a patient at Arms Acres, was seen in the emergency room of PHC and was then released. At that time it is alleged that the male, identified as Charles Barnes, a 49-year-old Brooklyn resident, opened the rear door of a female hospital employee who was arriving at work. He then, allegedly, threw his duffle bag in the rear seat and told the woman that he needed a ride.
Police report that the female employee ordered Barnes out of the car, but instead he ordered her out of the car. She fled into the emergency room where staff came out and found the suspect fervently looking for the car keys to start the car. He exited the car and advised them that he just needed a ride. The staff went back into the emergency room and called the police.
In the meantime another female employee arriving at work was allegedly confronted by Barnes and he forcibly wrestled with her and took her car keys and purse. He drove off in her GMC Envoy prior to the arrival of police officers Michael Bodo and Kevin Murphy.
A description of the vehicle was broadcast and a Putnam County Correction Transport vehicle observed the vehicle entering the Taconic State Parkway near Miller Road. The Putnam County Correctional Officers followed the vehicle southbound on the Taconic Sate Parkway. New York State Trooper Natale and Putnam County Sheriff Sgt. Timothy Gannon pulled the vehicle over at the exit of Peekskill Hollow Road and took the suspect into custody.
Natale and Gannon were assisted at the scene by police units of the Carmel, Kent, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Putnam County Correction Officers.
Investigation also revealed that Barnes allegedly stole a cell phone from a third employee while treated at the emergency room.
He is charged with second-degree robbery, third-degree robbery, attempted unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and petit larceny. Barnes was arraigned by Town Justice Joseph Spofford and remanded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of $250,000 bail. He was scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 5 before Town Justice Joseph Spofford.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
