Key West police quickly nailed man who allegedly tried to hijack a car early yesterday morning. The 31-year-old victim said the suspect punched him and pulled him from his year 2000 model Chrysler convertible as he was backing it out of Baptist Lane at 2:45 a.m. He told Key West Police Officer Eric Biskup the man threw him to the ground, took his wallet, jumped into the car and tried to drive away, but he hit several objects until the car became jammed. The victim got up and grabbed the carjacker by his hair, but the man got away.
At the police station the victim identified the suspect, James Kemp, 25, of Miami from a
photograph. Officer Pablo Rodriguez found Kemp a few minutes later a block from the crime scene. The victim
was driven past Kemp there and again identified him. Kemp was arrested for carjacking and felony
battery. Police found the victim's wallet and credit cards there, but the money was gone.
In a downtown warrants sweep Wednesday afternoon, Key West Police Street Crimes detectives, working with undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agents, picked up ten wanted persons. It took only three hours, from 2:30 to 5:30 in the afternoon, Detective J.R. Torres said. The arrests involved 27 felony charges on various crimes. Everyone arrested was charged with sale and possession of cocaine. They are: Walter Cantrell Northern, 55, Keltron Miller, 28, Carlton Terry Knowles, 43, Rudy Alphonso Manuel, 19, and Clarence Wilson, 42, all of Key West. Also arrested were Isaiah Albert Smith, 55, Sophie Simone Davis, 19, Julio Gardner, 19, Rodney Atkinson, 24, and Quintant Williams, 24, all from the Miami area.
Torres said the detectives are still seeking several other suspects wanted on drug charges and they and road patrol officers will be on the lookout for them.