Clifton NJ police recently arrested a man accused of attempting to commit a robbery on a city street. Remarkably, the arrest was made after the robbery victim fought back against his attacker and disarmed him.
The incident occurred around 10:15 p.m. in a parking lot located near the intersection of Harrison Place and Ackerman Avenue in Clifton, New Jersey. The victim, a 40-year-old man from the Bronx, NY, went to the area in order to buy a computer. The sale had been arranged over the Internet through Craigslist, with the suspect reportedly agreeing to sell a computer to the victim and asking the victim to come to Clifton NJ to complete the transaction.
When the victim arrived at the agreed-upon location, the suspect allegedly approached him and pointed a handgun at his head. The suspect was reportedly wearing a mask to cover his face, but the victim was still able to identify him.
According to the victim, the suspect ordered him to hand over his wallet and cash. The victim responded by grabbing the gun from the suspect. The suspect then reportedly ran away and fled the area on foot.
Sometime later, law enforcement was able to locate and apprehend the suspect. He now faces a number of criminal charges, including armed robbery, illegal possession of a handgun, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
If the suspect is ultimately convicted on the armed robbery charges, he could end up spending a very long time behind bars. That s because N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1 stipulates that anyone committing a theft while using a deadly weapon such as a handgun or a knife can be charged with a first degree felony. First degree felonies in New Jersey carry a potential penalty of 10-20 years in NJ State Prison.
The investigation into the alleged robbery in Clifton NJ remains active and ongoing. Any members of the public with information about the suspect should contact Clifton NJ detectives at 973-470-5908.
For further information about this case, access the NJ.com article, “Man Disarms Would-Be Craigslist Robber.”
