Police: Lewes man uses knife during carjacking of wheelchair user

A Lewes man faces charges after police say he pulled a knife on another man Feb. 21 in Newark and stole his car.

Police were called at 10:07 a.m. to the Sonesta Suites on Chapman Road for a carjacking report and learned a man with a disability was sitting in his Hyundai Sonata when Jarad Hammond, 44, approached and asked if he needed help with his wheelchair, police said.

The man said no, and Hammond briefly walked away but returned to threaten him with a knife. Hammond told the man to get out of the car, which he did and got into his wheelchair, police said, and Hammond then chased the disabled man, threatening him with a knife and demanding his car keys, while the man called 911.

The man gave the keys to Hammond, who drove away in the car, police said. The disabled man was not hurt during the robbery, police said.

Police found the car a short distance away in the University Plaza Shopping Center, and Hammond was taken into custody without incident.

During a search of Hammond, police said they found knives and the victim’s keys.

Hammond was taken to Troop 2 where he was charged with first-degree robbery and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in default of $50,000 cash bond.