MANALAPAN — On Feb. 2, Manalapan police Detective Michael A. Ratta signed complaints against Marshall Downey, 26, charging him in connection with the Aug. 13, 2008 armed robbery of an Exxon gas station on Route 9 north in Manalapan.
Downey is the second suspect to be charged in connection with that robbery.
On Oct. 31, 2008, Chrispeine D. Exavier, whose last known address was in Shamokin, Pa., was charged by Manalapan police with armed robbery, possession of a weapon (handgun) for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon (handgun), criminal restraint, theft and five counts of conspiracy.
Exavier was in the Ocean County jail, Toms River, on unrelated charges when he was arrested on Oct. 31 and charged in connection with the Aug. 13, 2008 gas station robbery in Manalapan.
Downey, whose last known address was in Newark, is an unemployed single man who is currently housed in state prison on an unrelated charge, according to information provided by the Manalapan Police Department on Feb. 3.
Police said the 18-month investigation was furthered by the collection of DNA that was found at the scene of the Exxon robbery and subsequently determined to belong to Downey.
Downey was charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, theft and conspiracy to commit theft. Bail for those charges was set at $100,000 with no 10 percent option by Manalapan Municipal Court Judge James Newman.
Police said charges are forthcoming regarding a Sayreville robbery in which Downey is also alleged to have been involved.
Manalapan police gave the following account of the crimes.
At about 2 a.m. Aug. 13, 2008, two men wearing masks and armed with handguns entered the Exxon Tiger Mart at Route 9 north and Taylors Mills Road, Manalapan. After locating the gas station attendant, the men forced him to empty the cash register of all cash.
The men took the cash and numerous packs of cigarettes from the convenience store. The suspects barricaded the gas station attendant in the bathroom and fled the area. The attendant managed to free himself from the bathroom and telephoned police.
Police said that at about 1:50 a.m. that morning, Aug. 13, two men matching the same description attempted to rob an Exxon gas station on Route 9 north in Howell. Police said the gas station attendant in Howell was able to secure the door and did not allow the suspects to enter the building.
Following the Manalapan robbery, at about 2:38 a.m. Aug. 13, two men matching the same description entered a Sunoco gas station on Route 9 in Sayreville armed with handguns. According to Manalapan police, the men stole cash from the register and then fled the area.
Exavier was arrested at the Ocean County jail by Manalapan police officers. Police said detectives were led to the suspect because they pieced together items at the scene along with the surveillance tapes at the various locations.
Downey’s arrest last week was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Manalapan and Sayreville police departments. Detective Samuel Britton and Detective Michael A. Ratta of the Manalapan Police Department and Detective Richard Belotti of the Sayreville Police Department handled the investigation.
Police are still searching for a third suspect in connection with the Aug. 13, 2008, robberies. Anyone with information is asked to call Ratta at 732-446-8389 or Belotti at 732-525-5413.