At 3:34 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, a man said he was walking along the street when Julio Garcia Barrera drove by in a dark-colored SUV, exited his vehicle, shone a flashlight on the man and said he was an immigration officer, pointing to an emblem on his sweatshirt, Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda, Sr. said.
Barrera then placed the man against a vehicle, searched him, and removed approximately $500.00 out of the man’s wallet, Miranda said. The suspect then re-entered his vehicle and drove away, heading northbound on North 8th Street toward Davenport Avenue, Miranda said.
On Saturday, Jan. 24, at 3:30 a.m., police responded to the 200 block of Berkeley Avenue after a man said he was walking on North 8th Street toward his vehicle parked on Bloomfield Avenue, when two men exited a beige older-model Jeep, Miranda said. The passenger stood near the vehicle while the driver approached the victim, held a flashlight to his face, and asked if he was a U.S. citizen, Miranda said.
Barrera then opened his jacket and showed the victim an emblem with yellow letters reading “ICE” on it, Miranda said. Barrera then led the victim to a brick wall, searched him, and took his wallet, containing approximately $300.00, his driver’s license, and a debit card, Miranda said. The victim fled the scene and reported that his debit card had been used at multiple gas stations in East Orange, Miranda said.
On Tuesday, Jan. 27, detectives investigating observed Barrera sitting inside a parked vehicle in the 200 block of 1st Avenue and he was apprehended, Miranda said.
Barrera is charged with robbery and impersonating a public servant, Miranda said.
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