A Paterson New Jersey man has been accused of committing an armed robbery at a convenience store in Clifton, NJ.
The theft incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. According to Clifton NJ detectives, the suspect walked into the On the Go convenience store located on Lexington Avenue and approached a cashier.
The suspect allegedly held a handgun during the robbery and demanded that the store worker hand over cash.
After obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, the suspect ran out of the store and fled the area on foot.
Thankfully, no one inside the store at the time of the theft was injured.
Witnesses at the scene later spoke with police officers and said that the suspect concealed his identity by wearing dark clothing and covering his face with a mask.
Clifton police and the Passaic County Sheriff s Office K-9 unit canvassed the area in search of the suspect but were unable to find him in the hours after the robbery.
The 27-year-old suspect, who resides in Paterson NJ, was eventually identified as the robber. When a Clifton NJ plainclothes detective spotted him walking near the intersection of Highland Avenue and Parker Avenue, additional police officers were called to the scene. The suspect was then placed under arrest after reportedly leading police on a brief chase.
The suspect is charged with multiple criminal offenses, including armed robbery, illegal possession of a handgun, and resisting arrest.
If the suspect is convicted on the most serious charges of armed robbery, he would be subject to severe penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1, anyone who uses a firearm during a theft can be charged with a second degree crime. A conviction for second degree armed robbery could lead to a sentence of 5-10 years in NJ State Prison.
For additional information about this case, access the NJ.com article, “Suspect in Clifton Armed Robbery Arrested.”
