Acting Prosecutor Carolyn Murray is reporting that in the last 18 hours there were two armed Robberies in Essex County(Newark and Belleville) where law enforcement officers had to discharge their weapons.
The first incident occurred at 6:25 p.m. last evening on the 400 block of Orange Street in Newark where as two suspects one confirmed to be armed at this time attempted to rob a clothing store. A 5 year veteran Corrections Officer from the Essex County CorrectionalCenter was off duty in the store. The officer identified himself and the gunman opened fire with the officer returning fire. During the exchange of gunfire a 57 year old employee was struck in the stomach. The employee is listed in stable condition. (We will not release the officer or the victim's name for security reasons).
Detectives at this point of the investigation obtained evidence at the scene indicating that the gunman and or his a compliance were injured.
The officer was not struck but was evaluated at and area hospital and released.
At 11;22 a.m. this morning officers from the Belleville Police Department were summoned by a 911 caller to a possible armed robbery at the Radio Shack located at 400 block of Main Street in the township. As officers approached the scene from the rear the two robbers were leaving the establishment. The suspect vehicle rammed the officer /vehicle . The officer fired several shots striking the get away vehicle. It has not been confirmed if the suspects were shot. The suspects pistol whipped one of the three employees and tied them up.
The suspects fled south on Main Street and remain at-large. The officer 10 year veteran who will not be identified for safety issues was evaluated at a area hospital.
The both investigations are being conducted by the Essex County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force and the Professional Standards Bureau as well as the Newark and Belleville Police Departments.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Prosecutor's Tip line , the Newark or Belleville Police Departments.