Man and Woman Charged with Vehicular Hijacking and Robbery
A man and a woman have been charged with violently attacking and robbing a 50-year-old man during a vehicular hijacking, after surveillance footage allegedly captured them selling the victim’s stolen cellphone for cash at a Walmart.
The incident took place on April 27 when the victim exited his 2024 Dodge Ram 1500 in the 2900 block of West 56th Street. Christopher Hickey, 36, and Stephanie Galarza, 35, reportedly assaulted the man, causing him to lose two teeth and rendering him unconscious, according to court documents. While the victim was unconscious, the pair searched through his pockets, stealing $2,000 to $3,000 in cash, his wallet, and his phone.
Galarza then drove the stolen truck, with Hickey in the passenger seat, to an alley behind their residence, where they allegedly took additional cash and construction tools from the vehicle.
Authorities later found out that the victim’s cellphone had been sold for cash at a Walmart. Surveillance footage purportedly showed Hickey and Galarza selling the phone, wearing similar clothing to what they wore during the hijacking, as per the prosecution. The police apprehended both suspects a few days later.
Judge Antara Rivera ordered Galarza and Hickey to be detained on charges of robbery, vehicular hijacking, and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm. Hickey also faces an obstruction of identification charge because he reportedly identified himself as “Clayton” Hickey when police were arresting him.
