PHOENIX — An Amazon delivery worker is credited with preventing an armed carjacking last week in north Phoenix.
Phoenix police report that on December 4, they were conducting a concentrated patrol due to the high number of crimes against businesses in the area of Cave Creek and Cactus roads.
When they questioned several men loitering near a bank, one of them gave police three false names before saying, "I have warrants" and running away.
The suspect, later identified as Justin Michael Berthiaume, 27, found an open and running Amazon delivery van and got inside.
Police say there was a worker in the passenger seat who demanded that Berthiaume get out. Instead, he allegedly showed the victim a handgun hidden in his waistband and put the van in gear. The victim reportedly reached over, put the van back in park, took the keys, and ran.
Berthiaume also ran away and carjacked a woman stopped at a stoplight. Police say officers saw Berthiaume throw the woman from the car before leaving.
Police later found the car abandoned.
Court records show that a probation officer heard the commotion on police radios and believed he was searching for the same suspect. He showed officers a picture of Berthiaume, and they identified him as the suspect.
Berthiaume was located and arrested later that day near 20th Street and Bell Road.
He has been charged with vehicle theft and robbery.
