News & Press

Benefits card ties man to carjacking
By Scott J. Croteau, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
April 09, 2008

WORCESTER— A food stamp card allegedly dropped by a carjacking suspect has led to his arrest.

Martin J. Rosa, 38, of 173 Austin St., Apt. 1, allegedly dropped his Massachusetts electronic benefits card while struggling with the 72-year-old victim on March 26 in the area of Kelley Square. Mr. Rosa allegedly held the victim at knifepoint last month and forced him to drive throughout the city.

The victim jumped out of the car in the Kelley Square area after decided he was no longer going to drive around the city. According to police and court records, Mr. Rosa was holding a blue card in his hand during the alleged carjacking and dropped it as he struggled to keep the victim inside the car.

The victim eventually escaped after being dragged and recovered the card. Authorities said the card told them exactly who their suspect was.

"It has his name right on it," Detective Capt. Edward J. McGinn Jr. said today.

Assistant District Attorney Roberta A. O’Brien said the victim identified Mr. Rosa as the assailant in a photograph array that had two pictures of Mr. Rosa.

Mr. Rosa's lawyer, Bruce E. Hopper, questioned the use of the photography array yesterday during his client’s arraignment in Central District Court. He said the identification based on the array should be suppressed.

"He’s adamant he wasn’t in the area when this happened," Mr. Hopper said of the alleged carjacking.

Authorities arrested Mr. Rosa in Ware yesterday on a warrant charging him with the alleged carjacking. He was charged today in Central District Court with armed carjacking, armed assault to rob of a person over 60, assault and battery of a person over 60 and kidnapping. He was held on $50,000 cash bail and his case was continued to May 9.

The alleged victim was driving near Main and Hermon streets about 8 p.m. March 26 when he stopped to let a pedestrian cross the street. The pedestrian — identified as Mr. Rosa — instead jumped into the backseat of the car, held a knife to the man and told him to drive, police said.

Mr. Rosa allegedly tried to take money from the victim, but didn’t find any and continue to force him to drive. Sometime during the ride, Mr. Rosa allegedly jumped into the front passenger seat.

When the pair ended up in Kelley Square the victim told Mr. Rosa he wasn’t going to drive anymore, Capt. McGinn said.

"At this point Rosa threw his foot on the gas petal," the captain said. "The car went screaming through Kelley Square."

The victim steered the car into oncoming traffic and the car eventually came to a stop. The victim jumped out while the car continued to roll backward, police said. Mr. Rosa struggled to pull the victim back in and allegedly cut himself during the process, the captain said.

The elderly man escaped and allegedly found the EBT card. Mr. Rosa allegedly drove off in the car, which was later recovered on Oread Street. Capt. McGinn said there was blood in the car. The blood was taken into evidence. After his arrest, police took a saliva swab from Mr. Rosa and will have the DNA from the blood checked against Mr. Rosa’s saliva.