Somerset County officials announced the arrests of Kayla S. Burnett, 20, of Ewing and Samuel P. Dyal, 18, of Princeton, in relation to a robbery that occurred on Sunday, January 17, in the area of Lancaster Court in Montgomery Township.
Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson stated that on Monday, January 25, a juvenile victim responded to the Montgomery Township Police Department to report that on Sunday, January 17, at approximately 6:30 p.m., he made arrangements to meet with an individual through a social media application to conduct a narcotics transaction.
Upon arrival, the victim stated that a male entered the passenger seat of his vehicle and pointed a black gun at him while a second male entered the rear seat of his vehicle and demanded his wallet, cellular telephone, car keys and hat.
According to Prosecutor Robertson, the two male suspects physically removed the victim from his vehicle and ordered him into a silver BMW sedan driven by a female suspect. The male suspect with the gun hit the victim over the head with the butt of the gun and a ski mask was placed over the victim’s head.
Prosecutor Robertson said that the victim was driven to a nearby ATM where he was instructed to withdraw money. The victim withdrew four hundred and twenty dollars and handed it over to the suspects.
Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Montgomery Township Police Department conducted an investigation into the robbery.
As a result of this investigation, defendant Burnett and defendant Dyal were identified as the two additional individuals involved in the robbery.
According to Prosecutor Robertson, Defendant George C. Battle, 4th was previously taken into custody on April 28 and charged with 1st-degree Armed Robbery, 2nd-degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, 2nd-degree Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery and 2nd degree Luring for his involvement in this robbery.
Prosecutor Robertson said that on Wednesday, May 26, defendant Burnett was taken into custody at the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office without incident.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that defendant Burnett has been charged with 3rd-degree Theft by Unlawful Taking. Defendant Burnett was released pending a court date in this matter.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that defendant Dyal was taken into custody at a relative’s residence in East Windsor on Thursday, May 27, without incident.
Defendant Dyal has been charged with 1st-degree Armed Robbery, 2nd-degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, 2nd-degree Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery and 2nd degree Luring. Defendant Dyal was lodged at the Somerset County Jail pending a bail detention hearing in this matter.
Somerset County officials request anyone with information relating to this robbery to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Montgomery Township Police Department at (908) 359-3222.
Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.