St. Luke’s Carjacking Suspect Arrested

A 26-year-old New Bedford man has been arrested in connection with a carjacking near St. Luke's Hospital earlier this week.

Police say 26-year-old Juan Joel Rivera of Phillips Avenue was spotted Friday afternoon getting into the stolen Chevrolet Suburban in the area of Chancery and Elm Streets. After Rivera drove off in the SUV, he was soon stopped and arrested by police officers without incident.

A kitchen knife believed to be the weapon used to steal the vehicle was found in the SUV at the time of his arrest.

Rivera will be arraigned in New Bedford District Court Monday morning on charges of carjacking, assault by means of a dangerous weapon, and armed robbery.

The victim of the carjacking, a 44-year-old Dartmouth woman, was able to positively identify Rivera as the carjacker through a photo array.

Rivera apparently carjacked the vehicle after he was released from the hospital. It's not known what kind of care Rivera had received.