Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor and Franklin Township Chief of Police Lawrence Roberts announced the arrest of Quintin D. Watson, 50, of Hillsborough Township, for two recent bank robberies that occurred in the Somerset section of Franklin Township, New Jersey.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on September 3rd at approximately 12:58 p.m., Franklin Township Police responded to an alarm activation at the TD Bank located on Route 27 in the Somerset Section of Franklin Township.
Responding officers met with bank employees who reported that an unknown black male suspect approached a bank teller and handed them a note announcing the robbery. After receiving an undisclosed amount of currency from the teller he fled on foot in an unknown direction.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department, and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit responded to conduct the investigation. The suspect was described as a dark skinned black male, approximately 6’2” tall and having a muscular build.
Detectives released a surveillance picture of the suspect asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on November 1st, at approximately 6 p.m., Franklin Township Police responded to an alarm activation at the Chase Bank, located on Elizabeth Avenue in the Somerset section of Franklin Township.
Responding officers met with bank employees who reported that an unknown black male suspect approached a bank teller and handed them a note announcing the robbery as the suspect motioned towards his waistband as if he had a weapon. The suspect fled from the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of currency. A description of the suspect was broadcast to surrounding law enforcement agencies by the Somerset County Communications Center.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations and Forensics Unit, along with Special Agents from the Franklin Township Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) field office, responded to conduct the investigation. The suspect was described as a dark skinned black male, approximately 6’2” tall and having a muscular build, wearing a dark grey ski cap.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that as a result of the investigation detectives identified the bank robbery suspect as Quintin D. Watson. Defendant Watson was taken into custody Friday at approximately 7:30p.m. in parking lot of Hillsborough Township restaurant. Detectives subsequently executed a search warrant of defendant Watson’s Hillsborough Township residence.
Defendant Watson was charged with two counts of first degree robbery and lodged in the Somerset County Jail without bail pending a detention hearing.
The investigation into a string of recent bank robberies throughout Central New Jersey is continuing and additional charges against defendant Watson are pending.
Prosecutor Robertson, Chief Fodor and Chief Roberts request anyone with information regarding either of the bank robberies is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100, the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533, FBI Franklin Field Office at (908) 231-2800, or via the STOPit app by downloading STOPit to your smart phone at Google Play or the Apple Store and enter the access code “SOMERSETNJ”, or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
The above charges are merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.