Officers from the Essex County Sheriff's Department on routine patrol near Independence Park in the city's East Ward Ward were flagged down early this morning by a victim of an attempted armed robbery.
The victim approached police shortly before 4:30 a.m. and stated that a black male suspect brandished a handgun and ordered personal possessions in the 200 block of Van Buren Street.
The suspect fled the scene when the victim told him that there was nothing to hand over.
Police searched the area for the suspect but did not report an arrest.
Newark Police were contacted.