Credit: Jeff Bohen/LevittownNow
The investigation into the armed heist at a tobacco distribution facility in the 1600 block of Harmer Street in the Levittown section of Bristol Township came to a close in a puff of smoke and the stench of of wet money recently, LevittownNow.com has learned.
In the abandoned white Ford Crown Victoria used as the getaway car in the armed robbery, a probationary New Jersey Drivers License was reportedly found with other forms of identification revealing what Bristol Township Police Lt. Terry Hughes called at the time a “person of interest.” Adrian D Herrera-Peralta, 24, of Somerset, N.J. was that person, according to police.
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New Jersey State Police captured Herrera-Peralta at the Somerset- Bridgewater Hotel in a room with two others and a cardboard box filled with a little more than $20,000, court records say.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
New Jersey authorities were conducting motel checks, which is an “outreach” effort, on October 24 when they observed, court records say, “suspicious activity” and smelled the odor of marijuana as they closed in on room number 1108. Authorities asked for permission to enter the room which was granted by the female renter of the room. Inside, police found one other woman, not identified in court documents, and Herrera-Peralta with the allegedly stolen “stacks” of money smelling like “stagnant water,” police said.
A search the room led New Jersey State Police to the discovery of the cash and Herrera-Peralta, who was arrested on an outstanding local warrant and taken to state police barracks in Cranbury, N.J., according a probable cause affidavit.
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It was during the large manhunt for the four men cloaked in masks and war-like apparel on October 12 that police were able to apprehend in the underbrush of Falls Township Johnathan Martinez- Gonzalez, 28 of Newark, N.J., Jose Ayala- Silva, 24 of East Orange, N.J., and Joel Torres, 23 of Somerset, N.J.
The armed robbery by the four men of the tobacco warehouse was captured on video, court documents say. With the help of an employee and Tullytown Police Officer Andrew Bunda, the pursuit of the four suspects ended quickly with three of the four taken into custody.
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On October 24, Herrera-Peralta was interviewed by Bristol Township Detective Gregory Beidler and admitted to being in Pennsylvania with suspects Martinez- Gonzalez, Ayala- Silva, and Torres on October 12.
Herrera- Peralta was arraigned by District Court Judge Joanne V. Kline on charges of robbery, conspiracy, theft, simple assault and related offenses on Friday. He was sent to Bucks County Prison on 10 percent of $150,000 and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on November 19.
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