FRANKLIN TWP, N.J. - Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, and Franklin Township Chief of Police Richard Grammar announced the arrest of Aaron Taylor-Fajardo,43, of Hunt Road, Franklin Township.
According to a statement released by Prosecutor Robertson, on August 18, at approximately 6:14 p.m., the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force, along with the Franklin Township Police Department observed defendant Taylor-Fajardo in the business parking lot of 900 Easton Avenue.
Authorities say, during the investigation, detectives observed a sizeable commercial trailer generator that had been freshly spray-painted black to conceal identifying serial numbers and signifiers. Detectives smelled the odor of fresh spray-paint and also found that defendant Taylor-Fajardo had black spray-paint on his hands and fingernails.
Detectives located several empty black spray-paint bottles in the surrounding wooded area then further revealed that the commercial-grade trailer generator was stolen out of Paterson on an earlier date according to police.
Authorities say the generator had a reported value of $141,000.00 at time of original purchase.
Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotic Task Force members, along with the Franklin Township Police Department placed defendant Taylor-Fajardo under arrest without incident then charged him with 3rd degree Receiving Stolen Property and released on his own recognizance pending a Somerset County Superior Court appearance.
Prosecutor Robertson, Chief Fodor, and Chief Grammar request anyone with information to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100, or the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533 or via the STOPit app.