Police Coordination Results in Guilty Plea in Auto Theft & Resisting

Published on November 18, 2021

Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Christoph Kimker, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, and Harding Township Police Chief Erik Heller announce the guilty pleas of Malik Carter, a 21-year old Newark resident. 

On December 15, 2020, a resident of Harding Township reported their 2018 Black Porsche Macan Turbo had been stolen from their residence overnight. As a result of an investigation by the Harding Township Police Department, along with the Morris County Auto Theft Task Force, Malik Carter was identified through digital forensics as having committed these crimes in Harding Township and in jurisdictions in surrounding counties. Further, on December 16, 2020, Malik Carter was also identified and apprehended by the Essex County Sheriff’s Office upon Carter exiting the stolen 2018 Black Porsche Macan Turbo and fleeing from police.  

On November 16, 2021, the Honorable Ralph E. Amirata, J.S.C., accepted Carter’s pleas of guilt to third-degree auto theft and fourth-degree resisting arrest. The State is recommending that Carter be sentenced to three (3) years prison on the theft charge concurrent to eighteen (18) months prison on the resisting arrest charge.  Carter is scheduled for sentencing on January 7, 2022.

This arrest was the result of police collaboration between multiple agencies and counties resulting in a prosecution led by Morris County Auto Theft Task Force.  The Prosecutor, Sheriff Gannon and Chiefs Kimker and Heller all credited police teamwork, new technologies and enhanced communication enabled via the Task Force approach to advances in combatting the rising number of auto thefts and other related criminal activity.

Inquiries concerning this press release should be directed to Public Information Officer Meghan Knab at [email protected] or by phone at 973-829-8159. 

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