Last night carjacking in Raleigh led to the safe recovery of two children and the arrest of two suspects. According to ABC11, Raleigh Police responded to the Food Lion at 3685 New Bern Avenue following reports of the carjacking. Two suspects, identified as Mateo Medina, 23, and Chardazha Alston, 23, are accused of stealing a black Mazda carrying an 11-year-old autistic and non-verbal girl and a 4-year-old child.
The incident, which Raleigh Police clarified was a domestic dispute, ended with the children being found safe and reunited with their mother. Found at Duke Raleigh Hospital, both suspects were taken into custody, as detailed in the officers' reports. Medina, currently held without bond, and Alston, whose bond is set at $5,000, face multiple charges, including first-degree kidnapping and larceny of a motor vehicle, as their first court appearance looms on Friday, according to CBS 17.
Amid the chaos of the crime, one woman suffered minor injuries, requiring treatment at a hospital. WRAL reports that court documents accuse Alston of punching the woman in an attempt to commandeer her vehicle. In addition to the aforementioned charges, Alston has also been charged with simple assault, while Medina faces an additional charge of assault on a female.
Tensions heightened after the carjacking, as police searched for the stolen Mazda and the kidnapped children. The young victims were eventually found unharmed just after midnight on Friday. Despite rescue, it's unclear if the 11-year-old was released by Alston in a safe place, a fact underscored by the arrest warrant obtained by WRAL. Both suspects, who are currently in custody at Wake County, await their subsequent court hearing scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Wake County Justice Center.
