Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Investigations Stephen F. Wilson, Jr., New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, and Rockaway Borough Police Chief Conrad Pepperman announce the arrest of three males in connection with a home invasion robbery that occurred on the evening of Oct. 21st, in Victory Gardens.
Police charged Carlos Rodriguez, 22, with last known address in Victory Gardens; Victor Hernandez, 19, with a last known address in Rockaway Borough, and Marlon Martinez, 23, also with a last known address in Rockaway Borough, have each been charged with first degree Robbery, second degree Burglary, and second degree Conspiracy to commit Robbery. An additional charge of third degree Terroristic Threats was also authorized against Rodriguez.
It is alleged that on the evening of Oct. 21st, Rodriguez, Hernandez, and Martinez entered a residence located in Victory Gardens through a closed, but unlocked, front door. The residence was occupied by the leaseholder and two guests. It is alleged that Hernandez and Martinez were both armed with weapons, specifically a baseball bat and a knife.
Upon entering the residence, it is alleged that Rodriguez opened a closet and removed a safe. It is further alleged that Rodriguez then instructed Hernandez and Martinez to demand the safe key from the leaseholder/victim or to kill all three occupants of the residence. It is alleged that the victim turned over the key, as well as a gold necklace he was wearing, at which point the three Defendants fled the scene.
Officials say on Oct. 23rd, all three Defendants were taken into custody pursuant to this ongoing investigation. Rodriguez was taken into custody in Dover, New Jersey. Hernandez and Martinez were taken into custody in Rockaway Borough, New Jersey.
Multiple law enforcement agencies have been actively involved in this investigation, including the New Jersey State Police, the Rockaway Borough Police Department, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit.
Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at 973-285-6200.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite these accusations, the Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they have each been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.