By: Yuritza Arroyo
Bergen County authorities announced the arrests of James Lanier, 24, Newark, and Carlos Sanchez, 23, Newark, both currently incarcerated at the Monmouth County Jail, on charges related to an armed home invasion robbery in Cresskill.
According to officials, the arrests resulted from an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (“BCPO”) under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Cresskill Police Department under the supervision of Chief James Domville.
Officials say on Sunday, September 25, 2022, at approximately 11:07 am, officers from the Cresskill Police Department responded to a reported armed home invasion robbery on Kennedy Drive in Cresskill.
Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad responded and initiated a joint investigation.
According to authorities, the investigation determined that a victim who was home at the time of the incident was held at gunpoint in the residence for a substantial period of time, and several items were stolen.
Authorities say the motor vehicle utilized during the armed home invasion robbery was determined to have been stolen several days prior in another New Jersey county and utilized in several additional crimes, including an attempted motor vehicle theft and burglary on Inness Road in Tenafly on September 24, 2022.
During an approximately six-month-long joint investigation, James Lanier and Carlos Sanchez were identified as suspects.
On Friday, March 10, 2023, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office served Lanier and Sanchez with their criminal complaints without incident at the Monmouth County Jail, where they are both currently incarcerated on charges unrelated to this investigation.
James Lanier and Carlos Sanchez were each charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree armed robbery, fourth-degree aggravated assault, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, second-degree possession of a firearm for an illegal purpose, third-degree theft of movable property, two counts of second-degree receiving stolen property, three counts of third-degree burglary to a motor vehicle, and second-degree armed burglary.