NUTLEY, NJ – Nutley Police Director Alphonse Petracco and Chief Thomas Strumolo recently announced arrests in connection to a robbery of a Washington Ave Dunkin Donuts on Easter morning. Ocean Roberts, 19, Wilmer Arias-DeJesus, 19, and Yanik Pendleton, 22, have been charged with armed robbery and conspiracy after a joint investigation between Nutley, Secaucus, and Springfield police departments.
On April 9th, at 5:45 AM, Nutley police were called to the scene of the robbery. The suspects’ descriptions matched those wanted by Secaucus police for a similar crime at one of their locations. Through the joint investigation, detectives gathered information about the suspects’ vehicle, which was then shared with surrounding agencies.
The following day, a Springfield police officer noticed a grey Chevy Equinox with no license plates, fitting the description provided by Nutley and Secaucus. Police in Springfield recovered a handgun in the vehicle, leading to Ocean Roberts’ arrest. Over the following week, police secured enough evidence to charge all three suspects.
Chief Strumolo commended the detectives and the other agencies for their cooperation and assistance in the case. Police Director Petracco stated, “I vowed we would apprehend these suspects,” and expressed gratitude that no one was injured during the incidents.