Three men were arrested in recent days and charged with roles in three armed robberies of gas stations in the Somerville area in January.
Charged were Sahil Ram, 19, of Paterson Plank Road, in Secaucus, and Jaylen M. Folk, 19, and Evan Moore, 21, both of Hamilton Street, Somerville.
On Jan. 30, at about 7:20 p.m., two masked males robbed the BP gas station located at 1240 Route 22 East in Bridgewater Township. The attendant told officers that two masked males approached him in the attendant’s booth and one suspect demanded money while the other held a knife to his neck. One suspect was wearing distinctive red sneakers.
After taking about $70, one of the suspects dropped the knife in the booth before both suspects fled the area on foot.
Later, at about 8:36 p.m., two masked males robbed an attendant at the Shell Gas Station at 176 West End Ave. in Somerville. The suspects were wearing similar clothing, including distinctive red sneakers.
During the robbery, the suspects brandished a knife and punched the attendant. The suspects took a cash register drawer containing about $640 and 15 packs of cigarettes. Before fleeing, one of the suspects dropped a 12-inch knife on the floor of the booth.
About one hour after the Somerville robbery, two masked men males approached an attendant at the BP Gas Station located at 1292 Route 22 East in North Plainfield. The attendant became suspicious and called North Plainfield Police. Officers responded immediately and apprehended Jaylen Folk as the suspects tried to flee. When he was arrested for eluding and obstruction of justice, Mr. Folk was wearing red sneakers, police said. He later made bail.
Detectives from the Somerville, Bridgewater Township and North Plainfield police departments, along with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Crime Scene Investigations and Forensics Unit, conducted the investigation.
Mr. Folk’s arrest gave detectives more leads that led to interviews that led to the identifications of Evan Moore and Sahil Ram.
On Friday, March 18, at about 11:30 a.m., detectives arrested Mr. Moore at the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office. Mr. Moore was charged with robbery and attempted robbery, both second-degree crimes. Somerset County Superior Court Judge Kathy Qasim set bail at $10,000 cash or bond.
On Sunday, March 20, at about 1:45 p.m., Somerville Police Patrol Sgt. Darrin DiPalma, while on patrol saw Mr. Folk in the area of Veterans Memorial Drive. Sgt. DiPalma approached him and took him into custody without incident. Mr. Folk was charged with two counts of robbery in the first degree and attempted robbery, a second-degree crime. Bail was set at $100,000 cash or bond by Superior Court Judge Margaret Goodzeit.
At 9:15 a.m. this morning, March 21, with the assistance of the Secaucus Police Department, detectives arrested Mr. Ram was at his residence and charged him with two counts of first-degree robbery, and one count of second-degree attempted robbery.
All three defendants were lodged in the Somerset County Jail.
Acting Prosecutor Michael Robertson and Acting Chief of Detectives Timothy Fitzgerald ask that anyone with information contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100, or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). People can also go online at www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All calls will be kept confidential.
