Accused serial carjacker Nathan Saben held on $100,000 bail after armed attacks in Mass., NH
LOWELL - Nathan Saben, the man accused in a string of armed carjackings and attempted carjackings in Massachusetts and New Hampshire this week, was ordered held on $100,000 bail Friday
Saben pleaded not guilty to several charges at his arraignment in Lowell District Court, a day after he and his girlfriend, 40-year-old Jessica Tirone, were arrested.
Saben, 35, was wanted for two carjackings when Massachusetts State Police said they spotted the couple in Lawrence Thursday morning in a stolen car. Troopers followed them seven miles into Dracut.
The car's tires were eventually blown out and Saben stopped on Route 110 and walked away. Police said he was armed with a rifle. Saben was followed by officers and allegedly tried another carjacking to get away.
A witness told WBZ-TV Saben was holding his gun to his head when police tackled him and arrested him. Tirone was also arrested.
"I have such respect for the police to see how they handled things, to take Nathan and his girlfriend without incident. I'm really grateful he's alive," said Lauren Saben, the sister of suspect Nathan Saben.
The stolen Subaru they were in was carjacked at gunpoint from an elderly man in Alton, New Hampshire on Wednesday morning, just hours after Saben allegedly carjacked a woman in Salem, New Hampshire. Before that, police said the two attempted to carjack two other people in Salem, but the victims were able to get away.
Saben was first spotted in Haverhill Tuesday night, already wanted in an unrelated drug case, as the alleged carjacking attempts began.
"I've tried hard to get him help, he's an amazing person, and was an amazing person before drugs entered the picture," Lauren told WBZ.
Saben and Tirone were both taken to the hospital after they were arrested. Tirone spent the night there. She was also arraigned Friday, but via Zoom from her hospital bed, and ordered held without bail.
Saben was booked and held overnight at the Essex County House of Correction in Middleton.
"I think he wants to fight these charges a lot and should come out ready to right them," William Dolan, the Court Appointed Defense Attorney for Saben told WBZ.
"I think there are legal issues in Massachusetts about the statement police got from him. I don't think he voluntarily waived his Miranda rights," he said.
Saben is due back in court November 2 and will eventually face charges in New Hampshire as well.
