FREEHOLD — Two Freehold Borough men were indicted on Feb. 12 for crimes they allegedly committed in the borough during the summer of 2013.
According to information provided by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Luis Rosario-Colon, 35, of Haley Street, was indicted in connection with a July 9 armed robbery.
Rosario-Colon was indicted on charges of armed robbery, burglary (unlawful entry into a motor vehicle) and possession of a weapon (a handgun) for unlawful purposes.
Freehold Borough police Lt. Michael Sweetman said that at 12:05 a.m. July 9, an attempted armed robbery took place in the area of Marcy and South streets.
“Three women and a gentleman from a business had just closed up shop and walked out to their vehicle. After entering their car, they were rushed by two suspects who were wearing dark clothing and masks,” he said.
“One of the men waved a gun at the victims and demanded their money and purses. The man angrily repeated his threat. The second suspect then approached and told the first suspect to calm down. During the exchange between the two suspects, one of the passengers yelled for the driver to take off, which she did,” the lieutenant said.
Sweetman said that as a result of the driver abruptly leaving the scene, the first suspect lost his balance and fell to the ground. As he fell, his hand made contact with one of the vehicle’s windows.
“Detective John Reiff meticulously processed the crime scene and was able to identify and lift several sets of fingerprints. The prints were eventually sent to the New Jersey State Police laboratory,” Sweetman said.
Following a test of the evidence, a resident of Freehold Borough was identified as a suspect. The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the print belonged to the suspect, the lieutenant said.
Rosario-Colon was arrested at the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, where he was being held on unrelated charges. He remains incarcerated with bail set at $350,000, according to Cynthia Scott, a spokeswoman for the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office.
Freehold Borough resident Issach E. Powell, 28, was indicted on Feb. 12. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Oct 30, 2013.
Powell was arrested following a motor vehicle stop on Conover Street shortly after 6 p.m., Sweetman said.
Powell was indicted on charges of possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) believed to be cocaine; possession of CDS believed to be heroin; possession of CDS (Xanax-Alprazolan); possession of CDS with intent to distribute; and possession of CDS within 1,000 feet of school property with intent to distribute.
Powell remains incarcerated in the county jail in default of $200,000 bail, according to Scott.
— Clare Marie Celano