A man wanted in connection with a December 2000 armed robbery of a Main Street travel agency was arrested this week in New York.
By: Scott Morgan
HIGHTSTOWN Police Tuesday arrested a fugitive wanted in connection with an armed robbery that occurred here in December 2000.
Jose S. Patino, 28, formerly of Abbington Drive in East Windsor, was arrested on charges stemming from a Dec. 13, 2000, armed robbery of L&G Travel on Main Street, police said. Mr. Patino is one of three men suspected in the robbery. The remaining two, Darwin Guamantario, 24, of Tarrytown, N.Y., and an unidentified man are still at large and believed to be out of the country, Sgt. John Reppy said.
Sgt. Reppy said Mr. Patino fled to Ecuador sometime after the robbery, eventually returning to the United States. Hightstown Detective Glen Moore tracked Mr. Patino to Wappingers Falls, N.Y., where the detective, along with the U.S. Marshals Service and the Central Jersey Fugitive Task Force, arrested him Tuesday.
The robbery took place at L&G Travel’s office at 108 Main St. The company provides a service similar to Western Union, in which individuals can wire money.
Police said the three suspects wore masks and one held a handgun to a clerk’s head. Police would not specify who the gunman was.
The clerk, whose identity has been withheld, was not injured and no shots were fired.
Although police would not disclose the amount of money stolen, earlier published reports claimed that about $8,000 cash was taken.
According to police, the three suspects fled on foot in an unknown direction and warrants were issued at the time for the arrests of Mr. Patino and Mr. Guamantario based on information gathered in interviews with the victim of the robbery and other witnesses.
In December 2000, Mr. Patino’s father reportedly informed police that his son took a bus to Tarrytown, N.Y.
Sgt. Reppy said he could not speculate whether the location of the arrest in New York state had any connection with the Tarrytown address of Mr. Patino’s suspected accomplice.
Armed robbery is a first-degree offense, usually carrying a 10- to 20-year prison sentence, according to Casey DeBlasio, spokesperson for the Mercer County prosecutor’s office.
Police said Mr. Patino waived extradition at the time of arrest and is being held at the Mercer County Detention Center in Trenton, pending a court date.