Fake gun still draws real charges: cops

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Jersey City police said yesterday that Angel Garcia, 18, of Nunda Avenue, had an imitation handgun on him when he was arrested on charges of robbery and attempted sexual assault of a woman early Saturday morning.

Even though the weapon turned out to be a fake, Garcia is still being charged with, among other charges, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, Lt. Edgar Martinez said.

KEN THORBOURNE

I'm glad they were caught, and so quickly, too.

The shame is, though, that they'll be out in very short order (either via bail or some B.S. sentencing) to do it all over again, and no number of threats from their parole officers about going to prison FOR REAL next time or blah-blah-blah is going to stop them.

It's a damn, damn shame.

No wonder some people advocate for more liberal CCW laws.

Two charged in robbery and rape try

Jersey Journal
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
RON ZEITLINGER

Two Jersey City men have been charged in the robbery and attempted sexual assault of a woman early Saturday morning in the Journal Square neighborhood of Jersey City, authorities said yesterday.

John Perry, 28, of Montgomery Street, and Angel Garcia, 18, of Nunda Avenue, were charged with kidnapping, robbery, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, conspiracy, aggravated assault and criminal attempt aggravated sexual assault, said Jersey City police spokesman Lt. Edgar Martinez.

The woman, 26, was walking on Academy Street at 3:52 a.m. Saturday when she noticed two men following her, police said.

When she turned onto Van Reypen Street, one of the men tackled her, dragged her into a courtyard and struck her with a handgun, cops said. When the man began to rip off her sweater, she screamed and both men fled, police said.

Garcia was in possession of the handgun allegedly used in the incident when he was arrested, police said.

Police say investigators from the West Detectives Unit, Major Case Unit and the New Jersey State Police worked together to apprehend Perry and Garcia and recover the purse and cell phone stolen from the woman.

"The diligent and meticulous work of these investigators led to the arrest and removal of two dangerous individuals from our streets," Police Director Sam Jefferson said.

It seems midway between Journal Square and Saint Peters College - in any event they got the guys!
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I agree it is Journal Square but definitely not close enough to Saint Peters for it to be mentioned.

She obviously lived close to where she was attacked because of the streets she chose to turn on. She probably has taken that walk many times with no problems and felt safe.

Van Reypen and Academy is most definitely considered Journal Square.

My question is why would a young woman consider walking home at 4:00 am? Not very smart. Lucky for her she walked away only being mugged.

How is this "Journal Square/Saint Peters"? Saint Peters is about 6 blocks from Van Reypen and Academy.

Her scream stops assault after robbery

Monday, June 08, 2009
By CHARLES HACK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A Jersey City woman was robbed of her cell phone and purse, but she managed to fight off an apparent sexual assault by an armed man early Saturday morning, police reports said.

After being called to Van Reypen Street at 4:10 a.m. on a report of a person being dragged and attacked in a robbery, Jersey City Police officers met the victim, who had injuries to her face and head, reports said.

The woman, 26, who was taken for treatment at Jersey City Medical Center, told police she noticed two men were following her along Academy Street at around 3:52 a.m., after she walked from the Journal Square PATH station, reports said. One of them said, "What kind of a party do you want to go to?"

She walked faster but as she turned onto Van Reypen Street, one of the men tackled her and dragged her into a courtyard, reports said. She tried to push the man away, but he struck her several times in the face with a handgun, reports said.

She tried to call the police, but he grabbed the cellphone, police said. The attacker's partner urged the man to leave, saying "Let's go, let's go" and the victim told them to take her bag and phone, but the attacker said, "No I want everything."

It wasn't until she screamed as he began ripping off her sweater that both men fled. The men took her sweater, Sidekick cellphone and purse containing a black short sleeve shirt and a wallet, reports said.

Anyone with information should call (201) 547- JAIL.