A St. Louis man has been sentenced after a jury found him guilty in a Central West End carjacking that terrorized two 20-year-old women and kicked off a rapid police chase last summer. The sentencing closes a case that began with the July 2025 theft of a Nissan Altima and ended less than an hour later with an arrest.
A jury convicted 41-year-old Anthony Arch on April 8, 2026, of two counts of first-degree robbery, vehicle hijacking, first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle and tampering with physical evidence, according to the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said Arch had prior convictions for first-degree robbery and unlawful use of a weapon and noted he had been scheduled for sentencing on June 18. “This case reflects intentional and dangerous conduct that put two innocent young women at risk,” the office said.
Arch was sentenced Thursday, according to FOX 2. The hearing followed the April jury verdict and brought the prosecution to a close.
How the carjacking unfolded
On July 18, 2025, the two victims left a convenience store in the 4200 block of Lindell Boulevard and walked toward their parked Nissan Altima. Prosecutors say Arch ran up to the vehicle and used his body to block the driver’s door from closing. He told the women he had a weapon, ordered them to place their belongings on the car floor, forced them out and made them lie face down on the ground before driving away in the Altima.
Police quickly moved in on the stolen car, backed by the department’s Real Time Crime Center and Mobile Air Support. Officers tracked the Altima and arrested Arch roughly 45 minutes after the carjacking. They recovered the victims’ phones, wallets and other belongings from the vehicle, as detailed by the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office.
Conviction, record and penalties
The April 8 verdict found Arch guilty on all counts tied to the Central West End incident. Prosecutors emphasized his criminal history and the severe penalties attached to the new charges, according to FOX 2. Court records list the case number as 2522-CR02193-01.
Broader context
Carjackings have remained a regular public-safety concern across St. Louis neighborhoods this year, with local reporting documenting a string of recent carjackings. The Central West End case offered prosecutors a high-profile example to pursue aggressively.
Authorities continue to urge anyone with information on similar incidents to contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department or the Circuit Attorney’s Office.
