Alleged Bloods gang member charged in Newark assault, carjacking

Essex County authorities arrested an alleged Bloods gang member Tuesday night and charged him with assaulting and carjacking a woman in Newark last week, police said. Gerald "Kadafi" Gilyard, 35, of Newark, was arrested during a motor vehicle stop near Lehigh Avenue and Clinton Place in Newark around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura said. Fontoura said Gilyard was the subject of an open criminal warrant and an alleged member of the Brick City Brims, one of Newark’s largest Bloods sets. On April 10, Gilyard allegedly pulled a woman from her car on Renner Street, struck her in the head with a blunt object and drove off with the vehicle. He was charged Tuesday night with carjacking, aggravated assault, receiving stolen property and weapons offenses, according to Fontoura, who said Gilyard will also face a charge of hindering prosecution for providing a fake name to the officer who arrested him Tuesday. Gilyard remains in the Essex County Correctional Facility in lieu of $250,000 bail.