A mother and her three young boys were carjacked last week while in the drive-thru of a Taco Bell in Green, Ohio, New 5 Cleveland reported.
According to a statement from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, 44-year-old Mark Carlson had carjacked a vehicle last Thursday in Akron but he ran out of gas in Green. He then attempted to carjack another vehicle from a gas station before trying his luck at the Taco Bell on Arlington Rd.
Carlson set his sights on a minivan driven by 38-year-old Danielle who was stopping at Taco Bell with her three sons, ages 2, 5, and 6.
According to Danielle, Carlson climbed into the vehicle from the passenger side and began to attack her, jumping over the center console to open the driver’s side door so he could shove her out. During the struggle, Danielle grabbed the steering wheel, forcing the vehicle to careen into the building, injuring her legs.
Eventually, Carlson shoved Danielle out of the minivan and drove off with the three boys still inside.
According to the Sheriff’s office, Carlson crashed into the Taco Bell restaurant and the two older boys scrambled out of the minivan. Carlson then drove off with the 2-year-old still in the backseat. He then arrived at a gas station on Massillon Rd. where he dumped the child from the vehicle before driving off.
Law enforcement pursued Carlson to Akron where he was arrested after ditching the minivan, CBS News reported.
News 5 Cleveland reported that two deputies were injured during the arrest and one was transported to a hospital in Akron.
According to Ohio corrections officials, Carlson was released from prison in June after serving a sentence for burglary.
Carlson is in the Summit County Jail on a $500,000 bond facing multiple felonies, including three kidnapping charges.
