By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
One of the two men who broke into an Avalon Bay apartment Aug. 12 and who forced the occupant to withdraw money from the bank has been arrested and charged with robbery, car-jacking, kidnapping and other offenses, according to the Lawrence Township Police Department.
Righteous Laster, 19, of Trenton, was arrested in Pemberton Township without incident Monday morning by the Lawrence Township Police Department, with the help of numerous law enforcement agencies, said police Lt. Joseph Amodio. Police are searching for his accomplice.
In addition to the robbery, car-jacking and kidnapping charges, Mr. Laster was charged with burglary, theft by extortion, criminal restraint, terroristic threats, liability for conduct of another, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, theft of movable property and credit card theft.
Mr. Laster was also charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance after he was found to be in possession of seven packets of heroin during his arrest, Lt. Amodio said. He was taken to the Mercer County Correction Center in lieu of $250,000 bail.
The Lawrence Township Police Department was aided in the Monday morning arrest by the U. S. Marshals Service’s Fugitive Task Force, the New Jersey State Police K-9 unit and the Pemberton Township Police Department.
Now, police are on the lookout for an accomplice to the incident, which occurred shortly before midnight Aug. 12, Lt. Amodio said. The second man is described as black, about 20 to 30 years old, standing about 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches with a medium build and a close-cut hairstyle.
Mr. Laster and his accomplice entered the victim’s first-floor apartment at 11:45 p.m. Aug. 12 through an unlocked sliding door, Lt. Amodio said. The men held him at knifepoint while they ransacked the apartment.
The men forced the victim from his apartment and into his own car, Lt. Amodio said. He was taken to two ATM machines, where he was forced to withdraw money. The victim was then driven to Trenton, where he was released — uninjured — by the men. They fled on foot.
Anyone who recognizes the second suspect is asked to call Detective Daniel Gladney at (609) 844-7128, or by email at dgladney@lawrencetwp.com.
