BELLEVILLE –
On Sunday morning, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, armed robbers invaded the Radio Shack on Main St., one of the busiest shopping areas in town.
As they fled, the thugs rammed a Belleville patrol car, and an officer reportedly fired several shots at the getaway vehicle. It is not known if either of the suspects was hit.
According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Belleville police had been notified at 11:22 a.m. by a 911 caller that an armed robbery was in progress at the store, located in the mini-mall on the 400 block of Main St., across from Kmart.
When police arrived at the rear of the building, they saw the two suspects leaving. The men then drove into the police car, and the officer fired at their vehicle, a light blue Jeep, apparently hitting it at least once. It fled south on Route 21.
Authorities said there were three employees in the Radio Shack at the time of the holdup. All were tied up, and one was pistol-whipped. It is yet not known what was taken.
The police officer, identified only as a 10-year veteran of the Belleville PD, was evaluated at a local hospital.
As of press time, no further details were available, and the suspects were apparently still at large.
The investigation is being conducted by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force, its Professional Standards Bureau, and the Belleville PD.
Anyone with information on the suspects or the crime is asked to contact the prosecutor’s tip line, 877-TIPS- 4-EC (877-847-7432) or the Belleville police, 973-450-3333. Anonymous tips can also be emailed to HomicideTips@ njecpo.org
– Karen Zautyk
