Property crimes detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office have arrested three teenagers tied to a carjacking case. Malik Hardamon, 18, has been booked into the Fresno County Jail. He faces felony charges of robbery, vehicle theft and possession of stolen property. Two young men, ages 16 and 17, have been booked into the Juvenile Justice Center. The 17 year old faces felony charges of robbery, vehicle theft and possession of stolen property. The 16 year old faces a felony charge of possession of stolen property.
On Tuesday at 11:30 am, Malik Hardamon and the 17 year old approached a man standing in a parking lot in the area of Shaw and Thorne Avenues in Fresno. The suspects attacked the man, wrestled him to the ground and took his phone, money and car keys. The suspects then stole the victim’s 2014 Mazda 5, which was parked nearby. The victim was able to call 911 and property crimes detectives responded and began an investigation. (No weapons were used during the carjacking)
Detectives asked members of the Fresno HEAT (Help Eliminate Auto Theft) Task Force to search nearby areas. Around 2:00 pm, members of HEAT found the stolen Mazda parked in a stall at The Parks at Fig Garden apartment complex, located at 4085 N. Fruit Ave. HEAT detectives saw four young men sitting in the car. They identified themselves as law enforcement officers and ordered the men to get out of the car. Two of them, the 16 and 17 year old were taken into custody without incident. Hardamon and another unidentified man ran from the area. A perimeter was setup in surrounding neighborhoods and the Fresno County Sheriff’s helicopter, Eagle One, and an assisting Fresno Police officer found Hardamon a short time later near Griffith Way and Channing Ave.
Property crimes detectives interviewed the three men taken into custody and later placed them under arrest.
The victim received moderate injuries and received medical treatment. He is expected to be ok. The stolen car was not damaged. The fourth suspect, who ran away, has still not been captured.
***Video from the second scene is being provided through a download link***
Anyone with information on the suspects is asked to please contact the Sheriff’s Office at (559) 600-3111 or call Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP (7867).
***HEAT is comprised of members from the California Highway Patrol, Fresno County Sheriff's Office (FCSO), the National Insurance Crime Bureau and Clovis Police Department.
