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On Saturday, Dec. 3, Sergeant Christopher LoDico received information identifying a juvenile that was involved in a strong-arm robbery earlier in the day and was seen in possession of a handgun. This information was distributed to patrol units.
At 5:34 p.m., Officer John Bell observed the suspect juvenile in the 1600 block of Atlantic Avenue in the company of a group of men.
Officers Bell and Ivan Cruz attempted to stop the juvenile at the which time he began to walk away and refused their orders. A foot pursuit ensued and as the officers gave chase,
Bell observed the juvenile discard a loaded handgun, police said. The juvenile continued running westbound on Atlantic Avenue and was subsequently apprehended at the corner of Indiana and Atlantic Avenues after a brief struggle with additional responding patrol units.
A search also revealed the juvenile was also in possession of 6 grams of suspected crack cocaine. The discarded handgun was determined to be fitted with a high-capacity magazine.
As the juvenile was being taken into custody, a crowd formed around the officers and began to obstruct the investigation, police said. Danny Roberts Jr., 44, of Atlantic City was ultimately taken into custody after refusing orders to back away from the scene, police said. Roberts Jr. was charged with obstruction and released on a summons pending a future court date.
The juvenile was charged with multiple drug and weapons offenses. He was taken to Harbor Fields Juvenile Detention Center.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Atlantic City Police Department Criminal Investigations Section at 609-347-5766 or text anonymously to tip411 (847411). Begin the text with ACPD.
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