Lynn pair charged in carjacking

LYNN – A judge ordered $2,500 cash bail and $1,000 cash bail, respectively, for two city men who police and witnesses said carjacked an elderly man in Wyoma Square Saturday afternoon.But defense attorneys said the incident was road rage.”This is not a situation where they went over and attacked him and took his car for a joyride,” court-appointed defense attorney Todd Murphy said Monday in Lynn District Court.Jonathan Almonte, 20, of 68 Henry Ave. #2, was arrested and charged with carjacking; assault and battery on a person older than 60 or disabled; possession with intent to distribute Class D drugs; unarmed robbery; and violation of a city knife ordinance; at 4:15 p.m. Saturday.Abraham Dominguez, 26, of 13 Rockland St. #1, was arrested and charged with carjacking; assault and battery on a person +60/disabled; malicious damage to a motor vehicle; unarmed robbery; and violation of a city knife ordinance; at 3:36 p.m. Saturday.Each defendant pleaded not guilty at their arraignment in Lynn District Court.Police responded at 3:02 p.m. Saturday to Wyoma Square on a call of a man being assaulted, Lynn Police Officer Kenneth Estes wrote in a report.Police said the alleged victim, a 73-year-old city man, reported he was stopped at a traffic light heading south at Broadway and Lynnfield Street when a Hispanic male got out of the car behind him, pulled the alleged out of his car and punched him. The Hispanic man then demanded money, the alleged victim said. The alleged victim told police he said he had no money and the Hispanic male took his car and drove it down the street before getting picked up by his friend in the other vehicle. A couple (each of whom were interviewed independently) told police they were in traffic in Wyoma Square when a young Hispanic male got out of the passenger seat of a red car and kicked the alleged victim’s car, according to police. The alleged victim then got out of his car and confronted the young man, the couple reported. The younger male then punched the alleged victim, knocking him to the ground, police said the witnesses each reported. The witnesses each told police the elderly man tried to get up and was punched again by the Hispanic male, who then got into the alleged victim’s vehicle and drove it down the street. The red car then went and picked up the Hispanic male and drove away.The male witness also told police that prior to the incident, he heard a horn honking and saw the alleged victim driving a silver car and passing the red car on the left.Police later pulled over the red car and identified Almonte as its driver. Inside the car, police reported finding a knife, a jar with four grams of marijuana, a small digital scale and small plastic bags.Police found Dominguez at a barbershop where he was carrying a knife with a blade longer than 2.5 inches, a violation of a city ordinance, police said.Both witnesses positively identified Dominguez as the passenger in the red car who assaulted the alleged victim. Each also identified the red car as the vehicle involved in the incident, police said. The alleged victim positively identified both parties as being involved in the incident.Essex Assistant District Attorney Brendan Kelley said neither of the defendants had a record and that they told a different story of the alleged events. But Kelley requested $7,500 cash bail for each.”This is a 26- and a 20-year-old attacking a stranger in broad daylight, a 73-year-old stranger,” Kelley said.But Murphy said his client’s “story is far different.”Murphy said Dominguez told police that the alleged victim cut the two young men off while driving, and Dominguez subsequently got out of the car and confronted him. The alleged victim then swatted Dominguez, Murphy said. He noted for the court that police reported that Dominguez drove the car only 100 yards. Murphy said his client said he wanted to move the car because it was blocking the intersection.Murphy acknowledged the charges were serious but predicted that th