Police arrest man who shoved 77-year-old to ground in Newburyport driveway and stole his car

NEWBURYPORT — At approximately 3:13 p.m. on Friday, July 25, Newburyport police responded to a High Street residence after a 911 caller reported seeing an unknown male on a residential driveway shove a man to the ground and steal his vehicle.

According to a statement from Marshal Matthew Simons, the vehicle was last seen driving east on High Street.

“The preliminary investigation indicates that the victim had just arrived home and gotten out of his car when he was approached by someone demanding his keys,” Marshal Simons said. “The suspect took the keys during a violent altercation and stole the vehicle.”

The victim, a 77-year-old man, was treated for injuries at the scene by Atlantic Ambulance.

Newburyport police obtained a description of the suspect and identified him as David Agneta using nearby surveillance footage.

According to police, David L. Agneta, 46, is currently homeless, but has previously lived in Gloucester and Andover.

Agenta was arrested late Friday night in Exeter, Rhode Island, by Rhode Island State Police on a charge of possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

Newburyport police obtained an arrest warrant for Agenta from the Newburyport District Court on Saturday for the following charges:

• Carjacking (two counts)
• Assault and Battery on an Elderly or Disabled Person

Agneta is expected to be arraigned Monday in Rhode Island before he is transferred to Massachusetts to face the carjacking and assault charges. Marshal Simons said a rendition request was approved on Saturday by the Essex District Attorney’s Office. 

“I’d like to commend our investigators, including the responding officer, Patrolman Michael Falite, and Inspector Dani Sinclair, for the excellent work they put into this case. Their professionalism resulted in a quick determination of the identity of the suspect, providing us with the evidence needed to obtain a warrant and leading to this arrest in Rhode Island,” Marshal Simons said. “I’m very grateful that their swift efforts and smart thinking led to this violent suspect being taken off the streets, so he can no longer continue to put the public at risk.”