Linden police announced today the arrest of a 18-year-man accused of robbing another near the AMC Movie Theater Monday night.
Police officer responded to the AMC Movie Theatre, located at 1200 South Stiles Street, at approximately 9:50 p.m., where they met with a 29-year-old Linden man was reportedly robbed at gunpoint.
The victim stated that he was approached by 3-5 males who demanded his personal belongings.
One of the suspects reportedly produced a black revolver and pointed it at the victim. The other suspects then pulled him to the ground and punched him several times before they took the victim’s backpack and ran from the scene into the residential neighborhood across the street.
Linden Police units flooded the area and began to search the area for the suspects.
Officers located a taxicab a few blocks away with a passenger entering the back seat that matched the description given by the victim.
Upon seeing the officers, the suspect, later identified as 18-year-old Linden resident Justice Greene, ran from the taxi and fled into nearby backyards before officers apprehended him near W. 10th St.
Officers recovered the victim’s backpack, including his laptop computer, from one of the yards nearby.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit responded and assisted with the search, but the handgun was not located.
The victim was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and released.
Greene was arrested and charged with 1st degree robbery, 2nd degree weapons possession charges, 3rd degree aggravated assault charges, and 3rd degree possession of stolen property.
He was committed to the Union County Jail pending a court appearance.
The incident remains under investigation, and anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Kevin Mikolajczyk at (908) 474-8537.