By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
A 23-year-old Trenton man who embarked on a crime spree at the Avalon Run apartment complex is facing multiple charges, including kidnapping, armed robbery, issuing terroristic threats and weapons possessions, according to the Lawrence Township Police Department.
John Gaines, 23, of Trenton, was arrested without incident Oct. 5 by the Lawrence Township Police Department and the New York/New Jersey Regional Task Force, said police Lt. Joseph Amodio. He is being held on $900,000 bail in the Mercer County Correction Center.
The crime spree began Aug. 12, when Mr. Gaines and an accomplice, 23-year-old Righteous Laster of Trenton, entered a first-floor apartment in the Avalon Run apartment complex through an unlocked sliding door, Lt. Amodio said. They accosted the occupant, holding him at knifepoint while they ransacked his apartment.
The men forced him from his home and into his own car. He was taken to two ATM machines and forced to withdraw money, Lt. Amodio said. The victim was driven to Trenton, where he was released unharmed by the men. They fled on foot.
Mr. Gaines and Mr. Laster were charged with kidnapping, armed robbery, carjacking, burglary, theft by extortion, criminal restraint, issuing terroristic threats, possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of a weapon, theft and credit card theft in the Aug. 12 incident.
Mr. Laster was arrested Aug. 24, but Mr. Gaines remained at large.
On Sept. 9, Mr. Gaines allegedly returned to the Avalon Run apartment complex and knocked on the door to an apartment. The victim opened the door and was met by Mr. Gaines, who was armed with a handgun, Lt. Amodio said.
Mr. Gaines entered the apartment and forced the victim to drive — at gunpoint — to a nearby bank and withdraw money from the victim’s bank account. He forced the victim to turn over the money to him and to drive him to Trenton.
Mr. Gaines got out of the victim’s car and fled with the money, leaving the victim unharmed.
Mr. Gaines allegedly returned to Avalon Run for a third time, on Sept. 14. He knocked on the door to an apartment and when the victim opened the door, he was confronted by Mr. Gaines, who was armed with a handgun.
This time, Mr. Gaines forced the victim and three of his roommates into a rear room of the apartment, Lt. Amodio said. The man left the apartment after about 10 minutes, but he did not take anything. The victims were unharmed.
Mr. Gaines was charged with armed robbery, burglary, issuing terroristic threats, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and criminal restraint in the Sept. 9 and Sept. 14 incidents. He was also charged with kidnapping, carjacking, theft by extortion and theft in the Sept. 9 incident.
Lawrence police Detective Sgt. Joseph Lech IV and Detective Todd Caruso led the investigation for the Lawrence Township Police Department.
The New York/New Jersey Regional Task Force, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Trenton Police Department assisted in the investigation.
