On Thursday, September 28th, a little after 1 p.m., Roselle Park Police Department (RPPD) officers responded to the 300 block of West Webster Avenue on a report of a robbery. Once on-scene, officers located a 20-year-old male from Roselle Park bleeding from the head, who advised that he had been a victim of a robbery.
According to the victim, two (2) individuals visited him in front of his residence and struck him in the head several times with a silver revolver, wrestled him to the ground, and removed personal items from his person before fleeing the area in a silver or grey mid-sized vehicle.
The first individual was described as a tall skinny black male with dreadlocks, wearing a dark shirt. The second individual was described as a stocky black male with short hair. The victim was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries.
Detectives on-scene who investigated the incident were able to locate a witness and video surveillance in the area. Images of the suspects were also shared with other local police agencies. RPPD was contacted by Hillside Police, where they assisted in the identification of both individuals. This information led to the positive identification and arrest of both individuals involved in the robbery.
On October 6th, Keith K. Watson, age 22, and Aaronmich P. Archibald-Johnson, age 21 – both from HIllside – were discovered to be already lodged in the Union County Jail on an unrelated traffic stop and arrest that occurred in Hillside a few days after the robbery.
Mr. Watson was ultimately charged with 1st-degree robbery, 2nd-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and 2nd-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. Mr. Archibald-Johnson was charged with 1st-degree robbery. Both remained lodged in the Union County Jail awaiting a Union County Superior Court first appearance on all charges.