HIGHTSTOWN — A ride home from the American Legion took a strong armed robbery and aggravated assault turn amid borough woods on Monday, according to police.
The Hightstown Borough Police Department said a 33-year-old victim, Hightstown resident Jose Quiterio, reported that after a night of drinking at the American Legion in East Windsor, he received a ride home from a friend — who was accompanied by two unknown men, between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Sept. 3.
According to police, Mr. Quiterio reported he was then driven to a wooded area in the area of Springcrest Drive and Westerlea Avenue, at which time he was pushed out of the vehicle by the men who held him down, kicked him in the forehead, and stole the victim’s necklace, cellular phone, and wallet, with a total value of $700.
Mr. Quiterio identified one of his attackers as Marco Cadena, 21, of East Windsor, who has an active warrant for his arrest in the amount of $5,000 for this incident, police said.
Additionally, Mr. Quiterio described the other two assailants as Hispanic, approximately 25 to 30 years old, approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, and weighing approximately 160 to 180 pounds, police said.
There was no vehicle description at the time of the report.
Mr. Quiterio sustained lacerations to the head and contusions to the face, but refused medical attention, police said.
As of press time on Thursday, the Police Department was still looking for Mr. Cadena and trying to identify the two other men involved in the incident, according to Detective Benjamin Miller.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Mr. Cadena, or information on the other suspects, is asked to contact police at 609-448-1234.

