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The crime spree started a little after 8 p.m. on Nov. 29, when officers found an occupied stolen car parked on E. Elizabeth Ave near Zeigler Avenue, Police Chief David Hart said.
As the officers approached the vehicle the driver, a 17-year-old male from Linden suddenly reversed and hit one of them with the door, before fleeing the scene. A second suspect, a 15-year-old male from Newark, was arrested at the scene.
Police were eventually able to track the stolen car after the suspect crashed it into a tree a few blocks away. The driver ran from the scene and officers apprehended him after a short chase. A .45 caliber airsoft gun with the orange tip removed was recovered from the vehicle.
Then, just before 8:30 p.m., Linden police responded to a 7-Eleven store located near E. Edgar Rd and Bacheller Ave on reports of an armed robbery. A male suspect entered the store, brandished a handgun, and demanded money from the cashier, according to the clerk. The clerk complied and the suspect fled the scene.
At 8:45 p.m., police were called nearby to Moe’s Southwest Grill, on reports of a second robbery. An employee there reported that a male suspected entered the store, took out a handgun, grabbed money from the register, and then fled the scene as well.
Investigators determined both robberies were committed by the same suspects and were able to track them down after a systematic search with help from the Rahway Police Department, the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit, and Union County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit.
The first suspect, a 17-year-old man from Bridgeton, was located and arrested in a stolen car near West Elizabeth Ave and Jones Pl in Rahway. Detectives located and arrested the second suspect, 19-year-old Raheim Myers from East Orange, a short time later in the same area.
Juvenile complaints were filed against the 17-year-old from Linden for second-degree eluding, third-degree possession of a weapon, third-degree receiving stolen property, fourth-degree aggravated assault, and fourth-degree resisting arrest. He was detained in the Essex County Juvenile Detention Facility pending an appearance in Family Court.
In addition, juvenile complaints were filed against the 15-year-old juvenile from Newark for third-degree receiving stolen property, third-degree possession of a weapon, and related charges. He was released to his guardian pending an appearance in Family Court.
The 17-year-old juvenile from Bridgeton has been charged with first-degree robbery, second–degree and third-degree weapons charges, third-degree possession of stolen property, 2 counts of fourth-degree aggravated assault, and related charges. He was also detained in the Essex County Juvenile Detention Facility pending an appearance in Family Court.
Myers was charged with third-degree receiving stolen property. He was committed to the Essex County Jail pending an appearance in Superior Court.
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