HARRISON – Quick action by a vigilant East Newark cop was credited by Harrison Police superiors with helping capture a robbery suspect during the Memorial Day observance period.
Harrison Police Det. Sgt. Ed Markowski gave this account:
An East Newark man called 911 emergency at 11:57 p.m. May 28 and told police he’d just been robbed by someone with what appeared to be a handgun.
The victim told police he parked his car at Grant and Reynolds Aves. under Rt. 280, got out and was followed by an unknown male who abruptly asked him: “Did you want to get shot in the face?”
Then, pointing to what looked to be a weapon tucked under his waistband, the man said, “Give me everything you got!” He then punched the victim in the face. The victim turned over his iPhone to his attacker, who ran to a Hamilton St. parking lot where a vehicle was waiting.
The victim told police he heard a woman’s voice, yelling, “Come on, let’s go!”
At that point, police said, the victim lost track of the pair.
Police said the victim provided officers with information that allowed them to activate a “find my phone” app linked to the victim’s cell phone which led police to Clark St. and Belgrove Drive in Kearny but police were unable to locate anyone in that area. Shortly afterward, police said, the cell phone appeared to shut off.
At that point, police said they broadcast an alert and a description of the suspect to police in surrounding communities. But the trail went cold until about an hour later when, police said, East Newark Police Officer Billy Erezuma called Harrison P.D. to say he saw someone matching the description in the borough.
Harrison Police then drove the victim to that location where, they said, he identified the man as the individual who robbed him.
Acting East Newark Police Chief Anthony Monteiro told The Observer that Erezuma, a six-year member of the department and president of the PBA unit, was on patrol when he spotted the suspect sitting at a bus stop at Passaic and Central Aves. and immediately alerted Harrison P.D.
Police then arrested the suspect, Hector Ramos, 24, of Newark, on a robbery charge. Police said they learned that Ramos was wanted on two outstanding warrants from Seaside Heights and one from Newark.
No weapon was found on Ramos and the stolen iPhone was not recovered, police said.
– Ron Leir
