A joint investigation by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the Plainfield Police Department has led to the arrest of a Dunellen man, Union County officials announced on Wednesday.
Raheim Morgan, 19, has been charged with robbery, conspiracy and receiving stolen property in connection with four violent robberies committed in Plainfield early one morning this past December, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Nicole Siano, who is prosecuting the case.
Morgan is also charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, attempted burglary and theft for break-ins in Cranford and Westfield on the same day, Siano added.
According to county officials, on December 17, 2021, four separate Hispanic males each reported being robbed by multiple suspects with the City.
Officials said that the first victim reported that at approximately 6:30 a.m., he was walking in the area of East Front and Church Streets when two males jumped from a car, punched him in the face and took his wallet, which contained approximately $300 in cash.
County officials stated that about fifteen minutes later, another victim was riding his bicycle in the area of Cleveland Avenue and East 6th Street when two black males approached, knocked him off his bike, punched him several times and took his wallet which held approximately $500.
According to officials, then, approximately ten minutes after the second attack, a man was walking on the 600 block of Arlington Place when he was approached by a group of males who exited a vehicle and began to assault him before forcefully removing $500 in cash from his person.
Officials said that lastly, just before 7 a.m., a lone male was on the 1300 block of Front Street when he was approached and attacked by two males who assaulted him and made off with his wallet containing approximately $2500.
According to officials on that same day, several males committed a residential burglary in Westfield and a motor vehicle burglary in Cranford that were determined to have been carried out by the same group responsible for the Plainfield robberies.
The intensive investigation that followed, spearheaded by Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Office Intelligence-Driven Prosecution Unit and Plainfield Police Department, and assisted by a number of other agencies, led to the identification of Morgan as one of the suspects in the robberies and burglaries.
He was subsequently charged and, in early February, was tracked down to the Menlo Park Mall, where he was taken into custody by members of the Edison Police Department, Siano stated.
He is currently being housed in the Essex County Jail, awaiting his next Court appearance.
“I am grateful to the members of the Prosecutor’s Office and Plainfield Police Department for their tireless dedication throughout this investigation,” said Prosecutor Daniel.
“Together with the partnership of local and State law enforcement agencies, our efforts to reduce predatory violence and improve the quality of life for the residents of the communities we serve continue.”
This investigation is active and ongoing and anyone with information about these matters or these suspects is urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Detective Alex Lanza at (908) 370-4318 or Plainfield Detective Dave Brander at (908) 775 -3131 ext. 2351.