In The News

Three truck hijackers sentenced in New York; Georgia hijacker arraigned

In New York, three men convicted of a series of violent truck hijackings were sentenced to between 26 and 55 years in prison on Monday, April 27.

Two of the three were convicted of pistol-whipping a driver and stealing a tractor-trailer with perfume and other merchandise worth half a million dollars.

The man identified as the ring-leader, 36-year-old Angel Diaz, got a 37-year sentence, but won’t be able to start serving it until he serves a separate, 15-year term for attempted murder in an unrelated case.

In Georgia, a man who allegedly stole a bobtail truck on Tuesday, April 28, and led police on a six-county chase – while the truck’s rightful driver hung onto the back of the cab – was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday. 27-year-old Milo Demetris Banks faces multiple charges, including kidnapping, theft and fleeing police.

He allegedly stole the truck from a Kroger parking lot near Atlanta, and truck driver Torrey Lang jumped on the back in an attempt to stop the theft. In live television coverage, the 33-year-old Lang could be seen hanging on outside the cab as Banks drove along Interstate 75.

Police used stop sticks to blow out several of the truck tires, and Banks gave up after a struggle.

A police officer was hit by a ricocheted bullet that was accidentally fired by another officer. Lang suffered minor cuts and scratches when he jumped off the tractor as it was slowing to a stop.