Woman Robbed, Dragged by Vehicle Monday Night, Cops Say

Three men are facing charges following an alleged Monday night robbery in Bristol Township.

Below is the names of three suspects and offenses they are charged with.

• John Kerkula, 22, of Lumberton, criminal conspiracy, robbery, reckless endangerment, theft and receiving stolen property.
• Jarod Evans, 32, of Edgewater Park, N.J., criminal conspiracy, robbery, reckless endangerment, theft, receiving stolen property, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license and operating a motor vehicle without headlights.
• Franklin Talley, 24, of Bristol Township, criminal conspiracy and robbery.

According to police, an officer on patrol spotted a white Ford with New Jersey plates exiting the parking lot of the 7-Eleven at 811 Veterans Highway just after 10:30 p.m. Monday night. The officer, according to court documents, turned on his overhead emergency lights and saw a female being drug while the vehicle drove off.

As the officer got behind the vehicle, the Ford jumped the curb, police said, adding the woman was still being drug from the driver’s side. The vehicle then reentered the highway and the woman fell to the ground, according to authorities. The vehicle was reported to have finally stopped at Stadium Bar on Veterans Highway.

The woman who was dragged told police she was heading to the 7-Eleven with Talley and heard the 24-year-old tell someone he was on the phone and was going to the convenience store, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed against the three suspects.

Once at the 7-Eleven, Talley walked over to the white Ford, which contained Evans and Kerkula. The talked and the woman was invited over and asked to sit in the back of the car so they could talk, police said.

The woman told police that inside the car, Kerkila asked Franklin if the victim “had it on her,” according to court papers.

In the back seat, the woman sat holding $873 in cash. Kerkula grabbed the money and told Franklin to tell the woman to leave before they shot her, police said.

Authorities did not state why the woman had the $873.

Talley, the woman told police, exited the Ford while she remained inside and asked what was going on, court papers state. Evans and Kerkula told her to get out of the car or they would shoot her. They then tried to push her out the door and drive off, police said, adding that the woman said she trying to grab for the cash as they drove away.

Two police officers looked inside the Ford and saw a “wad” of cash in the back seat of the car, according to court papers. Police said the wad was $873.

Police did not release whether the woman dragged by the vehicle suffered any injuries.

Kerkula, Evans  and Talley were all arraigned before District Judge Joanne V. Kline Tuesday morning and sent to county jail on 10 percent of $100,000 bail. They were also ordered not to have contact with the alleged victim.