Local man faces carjacking charges

SALEM, Mass. (WHDH) -- On Wednesday, 37-year-old Johan Morales faced charges for spraying a New Hampshire tire company employee with mace, viciously beating him and carjacking his truck filled with new tires and tools.

“The victim reports that Joe punched him, knocking him to the ground where he was kicked in the ribs on the left side of his body,” said prosecutor, Patrick Collins, in court on Wednesday.

Police said Morales tricked the tire company employee into meeting him on a street in Salem to service Morales' truck.

Two days earlier, Morales used similar tactics to lure another tire serviceman to Summit Industrial Park in Peabody where Morales allegedly committed the same crimes, according to police.

“The same M-O happened in that previous robbery in which a gentleman was called to come deliver tires. He was also sprayed with mace. He fled on foot from the scene. His vehicle was also stolen,” said Collins.

Police said they used Morales' cell phone to track him to his home in Salem where they said they found thousands of dollars worth of tools and tires stolen from the carjacked vehicles.

The suspect's court appointed attorney said Morales does not have a violent past.

“The truck driver; he had a [Commercial Driver’s License]that’s a special license people need and so you need your drug tested…he needed rent money,” said Morales’ attorney.