Crime & Safety

Cops: Suspected Robber Nabbed After Victim Followed Him

Police say Newark man tried repeatedly to threaten persistent victim.

Bloomfield police nabbed a Newark man was after he allegedly stole a Bloomfield resident's cell phone on Watsessing Avenue Sunday.

Police said Donovan White, 19, asked to borrow a 25-year-old Bloomfield resident's phone and then walked away with it. But the victim was persistent, police said, and continued to follow White, despite repeated threats.  

According to reports, White allegedly approached the Bloomfield resident on Watsessing Avenue near Berkeley Avenue shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. White reportedly put his arm around the victim’s shoulder and asked if he “smoked weed.”

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When the victim answered “no,” White reportedly asked for directions to a “pond” in Bloomfield and asked the victim if he could use his Samsung Galaxy cell phone, according to reports. 

The victim allowed the suspect to use his phone and reportedly watched White place two calls before attempting to walk off with the phone. Police say the victim yelled at the suspect, “Give me back my phone” but White replied, "Thanks for the phone and don’t follow me," reports state. 

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Despite White’s alleged admonition, the victim continued to follow the suspect, according to reports. White then allegedly turned around, placed his hand inside of his jacket pocket and told the victim, “I will shoot you if you keep following me.”

But the victim was persistent, police said. The victim caught up to White and tried to grab his phone back, according to reports. White reportedly picked up a brick or rock and told the victim that he was going to knock him out if he didn’t stop following him, police say.

Police say the victim, fearing for his safety, backed off again. He borrowed a cell phone from a passing pedestrian and called 911. After placing the 911 call, the victim ran after the suspect again but came across Officer Matt Popowicz in the parking lot of 135 Bloomfield Ave. before he could catch up to the suspect.

The victim gave the suspects description to Popowicz and after a short search of the area, Popowicz and Officer Sean Courter found the suspect on La France Ave. The victim reportedly identified the suspect and police placed him under arrest.

White was transported to police headquarters where he gave the arresting officers several different aliases before they were finally able to confirm his true identity and charge him with armed robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, theft and hindering apprehension. He also was found to have an active warrant out for his arrest in Newark. 

Judge John Paparazzo placed bail at $100,000 and set a court date for March 26.


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