On April 4, 2023, at about 2041 hours, Newark Police responded to the unit block of East Main Street for a report of a carjacking that just occurred.
Officials said the victim reported that while in his vehicle, a male suspect came up to him, opened his car door, and ordered him to exit the vehicle while forcibly trying to remove him from the vehicle. The victim was able to get the person off of him and lock his doors.
Minutes later, an off-duty Newark Police Officer, driving an unmarked police vehicle, was stopped on East Main Street a few yards away. Police said the same man came up to his vehicle, opened the door, and ordered the driver, the police officer, to exit the vehicle. After the officer identified himself, the male suspect fled and the officer pursued him on foot. With the assistance of other officers, the male was taken into custody without incident.
Neither victim was injured and no weapon was displayed.
The suspect was identified as Mark Tannen, 22, of Newark. He was transported to Newark Police headquarters where he was charged with two counts of Attempted Robbery Second Degree. Tannen appeared before Justice of the Peace Court #11 by video and was ordered to be held in default of $5,000 secured bail. Tannen was turned over to the custody of the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington.