Camden Man Charged in Cranbury Carjacking Three Hours After Jail Release

A Camden man was released from jail on Monday, but he wasn't out for very long.

Frankie Gonzalez, 19, has been charged with carjacking and kidnapping a 79-year-old Cranbury Township resident, who was released unharmed, Acting Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Cranbury Police Chief Rickey A. Varga announced Tuesday evening.

Gonzalez was charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault, robbery, theft, burglary and making terroristic threats after he allegedly crashed the unidentified victim’s car on a Route 195 West exit ramp in Hightstown while attempting to evade police. Gonzalez was not injured in the crash, police said. 

According to New Jersey State Police, Gonzalez was released at 8:30 a.m. Monday morning and was back in custody by 11 a.m. the same day as a result of this incident, which began at 10:25 a.m. when officials say Gonzalez approached the victim as he sat at a red light in his car.

The victim was driving a 2009 Mercedes CLK, and was stopped on Route 130 south at the Dey Road intersection when he was approached by Gonzalez, according to police. Gonzalez allegedly told the victim he had a gun, entered the car, and told the victim to drive south on Route 130, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

Gonzalez released the victim on North Main Street in Cranbury and continued to drive, Carey and Varga said. Hightstown Police were alerted to the crime and spotted Gonzalez on Route 130 in Robbinsville. They pulled the car over, but after stopping briefly, Gonzalez drove away, police said.

He hopped on westbound Route 195 , where he crashed the car at about 10:45 a.m. State Police had joined the search, and captured Gonzalez, according to Carey and Varga.

State Police returned Gonzalez to Cranbury, where he was charged. The State Police said they were unaware why Gonzalez was previously incarcerated prior to his release Monday morning.