A man wanted in connection with an August carjacking of a taxi (first reported HERE on TLS) is in jail, after being arrested Saturday, Lt. William Addison said. Modesto Sanchez, 34, was charged with carjacking, robbery and possession of a weapon in connection to an incident reported at about 2 p.m. Aug. 14 on Woodlake Manor Drive, Addison said. Sanchez’s address was not immediately available, Addison said. In the August case, the driver of a 1993 Mercury van belonging to Express Taxi in Freehold told police that he picked up a man, later identified as Sanchez, at a Freehold Township address and drove him to Woodlake Manor Drive, police said.

At the destination, the victim told police Sanchez poked him with a sharp object and demanded his money, Addison said. The driver and Sanchez struggled in the van, police said, and the driver jumped out of the van and Sanchez drove off in the van, with the driver’s wallet, Addison said.

While leaving, Sanchez nearly struck several people in the parking lot. The van was discovered a short time later in a parking lot down the street, at Route 88 and New Hampshire Avenue.

Sanchez was arrested on the outstanding arrest warrants stemming from the incident. Lakewood Police Detective Robert Humeney took him into custody in Brick on Saturday, Addison said.

Sanchez is being held in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River in lieu of $300,000 cash-only bail. TLS /APP