With carjackings up 276% in Louisville, federal and local officials form new task force

THIS SUMMER COMPARED TO LAST. >> THE NUMBER OF CARJACKINGS THIS YEAR PAINT A DISTURBING PICTURE, 127 THIS YEAR TO DATE, COMPARED TO 46 THIS TIME LAST YEAR. >> WE ARE BRINGING SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TO TAKE YOU OUT OF THE COMMUNITY. >> IN JULY ALONE, 30 CARJACKINGS, COMPARED TO ONLY 4 LAST JULY. >> OUR STAFFING IS CHALLENGED AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF OFFICERS LEAVE AND WE ARE DEALING WITH ISSUES WITH ONGOING PROTESTS. >> ON AUGUST 4, POLICE SAY DEVONTAZ HARPER AND A JUVENILE COMMITTED ONE CARJACKING IN BUECHEL, AND THEN ANOTHER IN THE POLO FIELDS, AN EAST JEFFERSON COUNTY SUBDIVISION >> CARJACKINGS TEND TO BE ALL OVER THE MAP. EACH CASE IS DIFFERENT. >> ANOTHER CARJACKING TOOK PLACE DURING THE PROTESTS ON JUN SECOND. POLICE SAY DAMION HAYES AND OTHERS ASKED SOME PROTESTERS FOR A RIDE ON BARDSTOWN ROAD, AND LATER POINTED A GUN AT THEM AND TOOK THEIR CAR. >> WE HAD ABOUT 10 CASES IN OUR OFFICE. WE DON’T KNOW HOW MANY MORE THERE ARE GOING TO BE BECAUSE THE ARREST NEEDS TO BE MADE FIRST. WE NEED THE COOPERATION OF THE COMMUNITY. >> HAYES BECAME THE FIRST SUSPECT TO BE MOVED TO FEDERAL PROSECUTION. >> THERE IS A REAL CONCERN WE ARE SEEING THESE INCREASES IN VIOLENT CRIMES AND CARJACKINGS, THAT SOME ARE EXPLOITING LAWFUL PROTESTERS. SOME ARE EXPLOITING ACTIVITY FOR THEIR OWN CRIMINAL PURPOSES. THEY ARE EXPLOITING THE FACT THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS STRETCHED THIN. >> THOSE CONVICTED IN FEDERAL COURT FACE UP TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON. MARK VANDERHOFF, WLKY NEWS. JENNIFER: THE TASK FORCE INCLUDES THE FBI, ATF, HOMELAND SECURITY, LMPD, KENTUCKY STATE POLICE, JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFI

With carjackings way up in Louisville this year, federal, state and local authorities are forming a new task force to address the problem. Louisville police statistics show at this time last year, there had been 46 for 2019. There have already 127 so far this year.Form June 1 to Aug. 4, Louisville has had 400% more carjackings this year in comparison to last (14 v. 58).Watch below: Task force to address Louisville carjackingsNow, U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman's office is joining with the FBI, Kentucky State Police, Louisville police, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms, Homeland Security Investigations and Jefferson Co. Sheriff’s Office to help get that number down.“If you carjack in Louisville, we are going to take you to federal court,” Coleman said. He said they will convict people and they will be sentenced according to federal minimums with no parole.Officials said carjacking will be punishable by imprisonment of up to 15 years and a fine of $250,000. If a victim suffers a serious injury, the maximum term of imprisonment is up to 25 years. And, if the victim is killed as a result of the carjacking, the defendant may be imprisoned up to life, or sentenced to death. Additionally, if the defendant brandishes a firearm, a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of seven years is added. If a firearm is discharged, a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of ten years is added to the sentence. Reminder -- there is no parole in the federal system.Robert Schroeder, interim chief for LMPD said they need help from the community. When they arrive on scene, he says witnesses won't say anything to help police solve crimes. He called the amount of recent carjackings disturbing.Authorities said they've seen protesters who have been occupying downtown for months be targeted.Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine said they have had reports of protesters agreeing to give someone a ride home only to get carjacked. Coleman believes carjackers are exploiting protesters and taking advantage of the fact that LMPD is stretched thin. Photo in story is a generic photo of car from Flickr Creative Commons.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

With carjackings way up in Louisville this year, federal, state and local authorities are forming a new task force to address the problem.

Louisville police statistics show at this time last year, there had been 46 for 2019. There have already 127 so far this year.

Form June 1 to Aug. 4, Louisville has had 400% more carjackings this year in comparison to last (14 v. 58).

Watch below: Task force to address Louisville carjackings

Now, U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman's office is joining with the FBI, Kentucky State Police, Louisville police, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms, Homeland Security Investigations and Jefferson Co. Sheriff’s Office to help get that number down.

“If you carjack in Louisville, we are going to take you to federal court,” Coleman said. He said they will convict people and they will be sentenced according to federal minimums with no parole.

Officials said carjacking will be punishable by imprisonment of up to 15 years and a fine of $250,000. If a victim suffers a serious injury, the maximum term of imprisonment is up to 25 years. And, if the victim is killed as a result of the carjacking, the defendant may be imprisoned up to life, or sentenced to death. Additionally, if the defendant brandishes a firearm, a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of seven years is added. If a firearm is discharged, a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of ten years is added to the sentence.

Reminder -- there is no parole in the federal system.

Robert Schroeder, interim chief for LMPD said they need help from the community. When they arrive on scene, he says witnesses won't say anything to help police solve crimes. He called the amount of recent carjackings disturbing.

Authorities said they've seen protesters who have been occupying downtown for months be targeted.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine said they have had reports of protesters agreeing to give someone a ride home only to get carjacked. Coleman believes carjackers are exploiting protesters and taking advantage of the fact that LMPD is stretched thin.

Photo in story is a generic photo of car from Flickr Creative Commons.

With carjackings up 276% in Louisville, federal and local officials form new task force

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