Hoboken police successfully nab trio of alleged robbers after slew of February muggings

HOBOKEN – A trio of Jersey City men were arrested earlier this week by police following a spree of alleged February robberies, the Hoboken Police Department said in a press release.
A 17-year-old juvenile was charged with two counts of robbery and two counts of conspiracy, 19-year-old Alexis Diaz was charged with three counts of robbery and three counts of conspiracy, and Rolando Rivera, 21, was charged with two outstanding warrants, three counts of robbery, and three counts of conspiracy.
“I’m proud of the collaborative effort by both uniform and investigation officers to swiftly put an end to this rash of robberies [allegedly] committed by these three individuals from Jersey City,” Hoboken Police Chief Kenneth Ferrante told The Hoboken Reporter.
On Sunday, Feb. 28, police units were dispatched to Fifth and Adams Streets around 11:49 p.m. on a report of a robbery. There, they found an injured victim – whose identity and address were not disclosed – with a laceration to the right side of his head and a cut to his bottom lip, according to the press release.
The victim “was able to describe the three assailants who had just [allegedly] assaulted him and attempted to take his wallet,” the press release says.
After combing the area, Sergeant Corrado Allegretta found and detained a male that fit the description of one of the alleged assailants, the report says, noting that he was later identified as the alleged juvenile assailant. Police Officer Roary Miller and Special Police Officer Christopher Barral found the second alleged assailant Alexis Diaz in the area of the Second Street Hudson Bergen Light Rail.
“Both were transported to headquarters where Diaz provided the detective with a full confession also implicating the other defendants in the prior acts,” the press release reads.
On the next day, Monday, Feb. 29, the press release says, Detectives Andrew Perez and John Quinones prepared warrant complaints for the third defendant, Rolando Rivera – who was later arrested and confessed to taking part in the acts.
The trio allegedly stole a number of items from victims all in Hoboken throughout February including a cell phone, cash, laptop, and backpack.
The juvenile was remanded to a Juvenile Detention Center. Both Diaz and Rivera were remanded to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. The former was sent with a $30,000 bail and 10 percent option, and the latter with a $15,000 bail.
Other officers that assisted in the investigation and arrests include Police Officers Damien Bates, Michael Straten, James Barbro, Roberto Cuevas, Special Police Officer Kyle Seper, and Detectives Edward Lepre and Anthony Olivera. – Steven Rodas

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