Man charged with stealing car with 2-year-old girl inside in Newark

NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- A man is under arrest on charges of stealing a vehicle left unattended and running with a 2-year-old inside in Newark.

Sanders Martin Gomes, 40, is charged with carjacking and endangering the welfare of a child.

On Monday, police responded to a call of a carjacking, and a 24-year-old Union woman reported that she parked her car with her 2-year-old daughter sleeping inside to unload groceries at a relative's house.

When she returned from one of her trips her car was missing, police said.

Within minutes, police located her car with her child still inside less than 400 feet away on Adams Street.

The child, who appeared to be unharmed, was taken to University Hospital to be examined.

The victim's cell phone was also stolen during the incident.

According to Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose, detectives received a tip that Gomes, a suspect in the carjacking, was getting a haircut at a barbershop.

Gomes, who was also wanted on outstanding warrants, was immediately arrested.

He is also charged with possession of CDS as he was found in possession of six glassine envelopes of heroin, a vial of crack cocaine and a small container of cocaine when he was taken into custody, police say.