Alleged carjacker nabbed
A West Virginia man suspected of stealing a vehicle from an elderly woman outside a North Wheeling apartment complex Friday afternoon was caught two hours later after state police got a tip he was at a bar inside a restaurant on South Main Street in Washington.
Clifton Martin Dent, 37, of Wheeling, is accused of injuring the 71-year-old woman when he stole her 2006 gold Honda CRV about 4:30 p.m. at the Providence Green apartments on Fifth Street in North Wheeling.
The woman was parking her vehicle as Dent approached, said Philip L. Stahl, public information officer for Wheeling police.
“He told her to get out of the vehicle, but she refused,” Stahl said. “He then allegedly pulled her out of the vehicle and fought with her.”
The woman was taken to a Wheeling hospital for treatment of bumps and bruises. Stahl said her injuries were not life-threatening.
Wheeling police put out an advisory in the area, including in Washington County, with a description of the vehicle.
A short time later, the vehicle was found broken down along Interstate 70 between the West Alexander and Claysville exits in Donegal Township, Stahl said. A black man wearing red tennis shoes was seen running across the highway. Pennsylvania state police were alerted.
State police received a tip Dent was spotted inside the bar. They responded along with Washington police about 6:45 p.m. and took Dent into custody.
Dent was placed in Washington County jail on an Allegheny County bench warrant. He was transferred to that county’s jail Monday, pending extradition. Stahl said Dent will be charged by Wheeling police with first-degree robbery and larceny of a vehicle. He said it will be up to the prosecutor’s office to determine if Dent should be charged with assaulting the woman.