Robbery and Assault on Footbridge

A 19-year-old man was assaulted and robbed as he was walking across the footbridge near Lower Memorial Field.

Before the June 1 attack, the victim told police he had noticed two men standing near the concession stand on the footbridge leading to Upper Memorial Park and that one of the men had begun to follow him.  Then, without warning, the man punched him twice in the face, knocking off his glasses and grabbing his I-Pod from his pocket.  The assailant fled on foot back over the footbridge towards Lower Memorial Field.  

Though patrol division units were unable to locate the suspects immediately after the incident, through witness statements and the victim’s account, detectives were able to identify and apprehend the suspects afterward. Nathan Bragg and Jihad Burgess were arrested and charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, and additional charges may be pending.   Bail was set by Judge Vincent Pirone at $100,000.00 for Nathan Bragg.  As of the time of this report the amount of bail for Jihad Burgess was unknown. 

BURGLARY

On June 2, Town Pub was burglarized when someone kicked down the door and broke into the cash register. An unknown amount of cash was stolen.

On June 10, there was an attempted burglary on the 200 block of Watsessing Avenue. The homeowner found a window broken and a screen cut on the first floor of the residence but entry was not gained.

BURGLARY INTO AUTO

On June 7, on the 100 block of N 15th Street, a woman observed a white female with a ponytail inside of her vehicle.  Before the police arrived the victim witnessed the suspect flee on N 15th Street.  Approximately $2.00 in change was taken from the vehicle. 

On June 9, on the 400 block of Beardsley Avenue, a 2002 Toyota was broken into and a Tom Tom GPS system, along with the vehicles registration card, were taken.

On June 9, on the 100 block of N 17th Street a 2007 Ford was broken into.  Witnesses saw a white female approximately, 40yrs old inside the vehicle.  Five dollars in change was taken.

On June 9, on Jefferson Avenue, a wallet was taken from parked vehicle.

STOLEN VEHICLE

On June 7, on the 800 block of Broad Street, a 2006 Acura RSX with NJ license plates was stolen.

On June 7, on the 100 block of Hill Street, a 1999 VW Passat with Pennsylvania license plates was stolen.

ATTEMPTED AUTO THEFT

On June 7, in the area of Watsessing Avenue and Florence Avenue there was an unsuccessful attempt to steal a 2003 Dodge.

THEFT

On June 6, near the intersection of Grove Street and Royalton Place an unknown person stole four traffic cones.

On June 9, a man said his backpack containing a Dell laptop was stolen while he was playing basketball at Watsessing Park.

On June 9, at 8 Franklin Street, a woman said she left her wallet in a shopping cart and when she returned it was gone.  Video surveillance from the store revealed a heavyset, black female taking the wallet from the cart and place it inside of her pocketbook.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

On June 5, on the 100 block of Lexington Avenue, an unknown person shot out two windows of a parked Jeep with a BB gun.

On June 10, on Grove Street an unknown person threw a rock through a first floor window.

On June 10, on the 400 block of Abington Avenue, an unknown person threw a large rock through a first floor window of a residence.

On June 10, on Winding Lane, an unknown person threw orange paint on to someone’s parked car.

ARRESTS

6-5-2012 - Nathan Bragg of Bloomfield was arrested for Robbery and conspiracy to commit Robbery.

6-5-2012 - Jihad Burgess of Bloomfield was arrested for Robbery and conspiracy to commit Robbery.

6-5-2012 - Farrakhan Howard of Belleville was arrested for Robbery

6-5-2012 - George Kupinewicz of Belleville was arrested for Robbery.

6-5-2012 - Lorenzo Silver of Newark was arrested for Warrants.

6-06-2012 - Evelyn Madera of Belleville was arrested for an outstanding warrant.

6-09-2012 - Jeremy Johnson of Bloomfield was arrested for Contempt.           

6-10-2012- James Sessions

6-10-2012 - Winston Jackson