Borough men are charged with several robberies last week in Hightstown and East Windsor.
By: David Pescatore and Sarah Winkelman
HIGHTSTOWN Two men were charged with first-degree armed robbery and several other offenses in connection with a string of robberies in both the borough and East Windsor Township, occurring between July 6 and July 10.
On July 10 at 4 p.m., Lawrence White Jr., 23, and Chad Randolph, 20, both of the Deerfield Apartments, allegedly took $500 from 19-year-old Alex Quezada of East Windsor, who had just cashed two checks, totaling $500, in Hightstown.
According to borough police, Mr. Quezada was walking up Rogers Avenue toward Stockton Street when he passed the two men. Mr. White and Mr. Randolph allegedly followed Mr. Quezada before accosting him at the intersection of Rogers Avenue and Stockton Street.
Armed with a silver handgun, Mr. White and Mr. Randolph demanded money and jabbed Mr. Quezada in the ribs with the gun, police said. When Mr. Quezada refused, the men allegedly stuck their hands in his pockets and took the $500. Police said the two men then ran toward Grant Street Park.
According to police, Mr. Quezada called the police from a nearby shopping center.
Mr. Randolph and Mr. White also are believed to be responsible for two robberies in The Orchard occurring between 3:30 and 6:35 p.m. July 8, township police said.
The two men are suspected of attacking two victims along a bicycle trail in the development, knocking them to the ground and taking their wallets, police said.
According to reports, the victim was approached by two men on bicycles, one of whom asked the victim for a cigarette. After that, one of the men allegedly threw the victim to the ground and held him there while the other assailant removed a wallet, containing $35, from the victim’s pocket. The two then ran away, police said.
Later that day, at 6:35 p.m. The same two men rode their bicycles along another rider near Building 122, police said.
One of the men reportedly pushed the victim off of his moving bicycle.
The two then allegedly punched the victim about the head and face, then took a bi-fold wallet from the man’s pants pocket.
The wallet contained no money, only identification.
Mr. White and Mr. Randolph also are believed to be involved in a robbery on Abbington Drive. Police said a man was attacked and robbed at 7:39 p.m. July 6.
According to police, the victim was in the area of the J Building when two men threw him to the ground, kicked him and took his wallet containing $40.
Mr. Quezada reportedly selected Mr. White from a series of borough police photographs. Borough police picked up Mr. White on July 10. Videotapes from the housing authority were reviewed as well.
On July 11, the East Windsor Police Department arrested Mr. Randolph for an active township warrant. After being questioned by the East Windsor police, Mr. Randolph was questioned by borough police in connection with the robbery.
Police said Mr. Randolph led them to the gun, which turned out to be an imitation semi-automatic handgun.
Mr. White additionally was charged with four counts of robbery, three counts of theft, assault and unlawful possession of an imitation firearm.
Mr. Randolph further was charged with three counts of theft, two counts of robbery, two counts of assault and unlawful possession of an imitation firearm.
Mr. White and Mr. Randolph were remanded to the Mercer County Corrections Center in Titusville in lieu of $50,000 bail each.
No injuries were reported as a result of any of the robberies.