By Eileen Oldfield, Staff Writer
Two 17-year-old males were charged with second degree robbery and second degree conspiracy April 29 and are lodged in the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center, according to Manville police Chief Mark Peltack.
According to police, Rodrigo Cortez, a 24-year-old Manville resident, flagged down a passing patrolman in the Kyle Street pedestrian tunnel at 10:45 p.m. April 29 and reported being beaten and robbed of $25 in cash by two males. While Mr. Cortez was injured in the incident, no weapons appeared to have been used during it, police said.
The men left the scene in a 2001 Saab, according to Mr. Cortez’ statements. Police then broadcast the description of the vehicle through the police radio, and an officer located the vehicle at 11:04 p.m., driven by the two 17-year-olds, on Boesel Avenue.
The patrols reported observing what appeared to be blood on one teenager’s clothing, and brought both to police headquarters for further questioning. They later were charged with the crimes though neither admitted to the robbery directly, police said.
Mr. Cortez was taken to Somerset Medical Center by the Manville Rescue Squad for cuts and abrasions to his face and upper body and released from the hospital.
While police have conducted several interviews with witnesses, anyone with further information on the investigation is asked to contact the Manville Police Department Detective Bureau at 908-725-1900.
