Man Accused Of Robbing Woman, Forcing Her Into Trunk Headed To Trial
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The man accused of robbing a woman at gunpoint outside of her Cranberry Township apartment complex and forcing her into the trunk of her car was in court Friday.
It happened June 26 outside of an apartment on Dutilh Road.
Taquan Maxwell, of Grove City, was in court Friday for a preliminary hearing on multiple theft and other charges.
The victim testified during the hearing that she had her car door open and was inside the car, trying to clean it out when all of a sudden somebody pulled up that she didn't know, and before it ended, she was forced into the trunk.
According to the testimony, he pulled up in a Ford SUV, wearing pink sunglasses and a hoodie when the attack happened.
The woman asked not to be identified, but testified about the encounter. She said at one point she wondered what it would be like if she was shot.
"He got out of the car," she testified. "He put a gun to my side, and I screamed. He said, 'If you scream again, I'll shoot you.'"
"He said, 'I don't want your purse. I just want your cash and credit card,'" the victim said while on the stand.
After handing it over, she said, "I told him my boyfriend will be here in five minutes. He shoved me into the hatch of my Honda CR-V. I believe he was trying to start my car, but it's an automatic start. I honestly thought if he could he would have driven me away."
Instead, he drove away.
"I got out through the back seat and pounded on a neighbor's door. He called 911," said the victim.
Eventually, a Jackson Township officer spotted an SUV fitting the description of the vehicle police were looking for and Maxwell was arrested in Harmony Township.
A pellet gun, $3, a credit card and the victim's cell phone were recovered.
When asked who robbed her, she said it was Maxwell.
The prosecutor asked, "Any question in your mind?"
"No," she replied. "That's him."
In the end, her testimony was enough for the judge to hold Maxwell for trial on charges including robbery, theft and unlawful restraint.
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
