Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., the Paterson Police Department said they received multiple calls regarding six different robberies that occurred in the vicinity of Summer Street, 22nd Avenue, Main Street, Paterson Avenue, and McBride Avenue.
In all of the robberies the suspect, later identified as Justin Rodriguez, brandished a semi-automatic handgun and demanded valuables from the victims, authorities said. The suspect made off with cash and sneakers from the robberies, authorities said.
At 1:48 p.m., Paterson police were notified by officers from the Totowa Police Department about a vehicle and suspect matching the description from the recent robberies committed in the city, authorities said. Officers from both departments approached the suspect’s vehicle and were able to identify the suspect based on surveillance video of one of the robberies, authorities said.
The suspect attempted to run and assaulted a Totowa Police officer before being arrested, authorities said. Upon searching the vehicle, detectives found a semi-automatic handgun without a serial number and a 50-round drum magazine, authorities said.
Rodriguez is charged with six counts of robbery, numerous weapons offenses, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest, police said.
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