ST. LUCIE COUNTY — The man authorities say car-jacked a woman in west Vero Beach Tuesday and led police on a high-speed chase into St. Lucie County faces 13 charges in Indian River County and St. Lucie County.
Kendall Stark, 18, of Melbourne, allegedly stole a car from the Howard Johnson near Interstate 95 and State Road 60 west of Vero Beach Tuesday afternoon, using a handgun to take the car from the victim, according to authorities.
He faces eight felony charges in Indian River County, according to Indian River County Sheriff’s Spokesman Sgt. Thom Raulen. Those charges are car jacking, robbery with a deadly weapon, three charges of aggravated assault with a fire arm (he allegedly pointed the gun at three people during the incident), grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing and eluding, and tampering with evidence.
The charges he faces in St. Lucie Counties are misdemeanors, according to the St. Lucie Sheriff’s Office. Those include reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle without a valid license, two counts of resisting an officer without violence, trespassing, and damaging property.
Stark is currently being held in the St. Lucie County jail in lieu of $90,000 bail.
Whether Stark will be transported to Indian River County remains to be determined.
April 14, 5:22 p.m.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY — The suspected car-jacker has been identified after being taken into custody in St. Lucie County.
The person who is accused of car-jacking a woman in Vero Beach earlier today has been identified as Kendall Stark, 18, of Melbourne, by the St. Lucie Sheriff’s Office.
Stark rammed a gate at the intersection of Angle Road and Godwin Road in St. Lucie County, then fled on foot and was then apprehended by deputies.
Stark told investigators he was trying to get to Miami to be with family members and that he no longer wanted to live in Brevard County, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. He admitted to stealing a car in Brevard County and leaving it in Vero Beach this morning. That car was located at a different hotel near the Howard Johnson. The circumstances of the auto theft in Brevard County are unknown, but investigators will be working with officials from that jurisdiction.
Stark is accused of car-jacking a vehicle at the Howard Johnson near Interstate 95 in Indian River County using a small black revolver, according to authorities.
Charges are pending, according to authorities.
April 14, 2:05 p.m.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The man who car-jacked a hotel employee is in custody after wrecking the victim’s car in St. Lucie County near Orange Avenue on Interstate 95.
The victim was with her husband at the time when a man got in her car after she got out, according to Indian River County Sheriff’s Spokesman Sgt. Thom Raulen.
After they argued, the suspect pulled out a gun and the driver and her husband backed off, according to authorities. There were no injuries to the driver or her husband.
It is not known if the suspect was injured, but he is in custody of the St. Lucie Sheriff’s Department.
April 14, 12:14 p.m.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A woman was car-jacked around Noon today.
The incident occurred at the Howard Johnson near Interstate 95, according to authorities. The suspect was said to be a white male, 20-25 years of age, thin build, and armed with a small black revolver.
The car is a 2007 white Acura and is being pursued on I-95 and is now in St. Lucie County. Speeds reached over 100 mph when deputies backed off the pursuit due to safety concerns.
Video from the motel is being reviewed, according to authorities.
This article will be updated when more information becomes available.