WALLINGTON, NJ — Wallington police have charged a suspect in connection with a September robbery on Main Avenue.
On Sept. 24 at approximately 5:47 a.m., Wallington Police Officers were dispatched to the area of Main Avenue and Park Row for a report of a possible robbery in progress.
Responding officers, P.O. Blasiak and P.O. Richard Ray, conducted a search of the area but were unable to locate any suspects or victims at that time.
An investigation led by Lieutenant Detective Joseph Rock and Detective Szymon Popek revealed that a white vehicle was involved in the incident.
Surveillance footage obtained from nearby residences and borough-installed cameras helped detectives identify the suspect vehicle and track its movements before and after the robbery.
Further investigation determined that the same white vehicle was involved in a robbery that occurred earlier that morning in the City of Passaic.
Wallington detectives coordinated with the Passaic Police Department and later located the suspect vehicle at a residence on President Street in Passaic.
The vehicle’s owner, Jhonny Rodriguez-Valenci, of Passaic, was identified as the operator during both incidents.
On Oct. 18, the Passaic Police Department arrested Rodriguez-Valenci in connection with their robbery case.
On Oct. 22, Lieutenant Detective Joseph Rock charged Rodriguez-Valenci with three counts of robbery and three counts of conspiracy to commit robbery.
Rodriguez-Valenci remains in custody at the Bergen County Jail, where a detainer has been lodged by the Wallington Police Department.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or was a victim of the robbery on Main Avenue is urged to contact Lieutenant Detective Joseph Rock at (973) 473-1715.
