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Citizens Help Nab Boston Carjacking Suspect

A Boston carjacking suspect police say was apprehended with the help of alert citizens has been ordered held on $50,000 bail.

Joel Cartagena of Woburn pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday to charges including kidnapping and carjacking.

Authorities say the 36-year-old Cartagena grabbed the woman's hair on a street in the South End at about 3:20 p.m. Thursday and threw her into the passenger seat. He drove off but crashed a couple of blocks away.

A civilian witnessed the crash and told nearby utility workers, who alerted an officer working a detail. The civilian followed Cartagena until police caught up.

His lawyer sought lower bail, saying his client is in a drug treatment program.

The woman was treated at a hospital for minor injuries including a bloody nose and bruises.

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