Knife-Wielding Man Charged In Armed Robbery In Somerset County: Prosecutor

BERNARDSVILLE, NJ — A knife-wielding Bernardsville man who police say entered a Borough home and demanded money from the resident, said authorities.

Maicol Fernandez, 18, of Maple Street, Bernardsville, was charged with first-degree robbery, and second-degree burglary, said Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and Bernardsville Borough Chief of Police John Remian.

At around 12:22 a.m. on March 5, a 911 call reported an armed robbery in Bernardsville.

Bernardsville Police Officers met with an adult male victim, a Bernardsville resident, who reported being robbed by an unknown man who entered his home, brandished a knife, and demanded money, said authorities.

At one point, the victim tried to struggle with the suspect and sustained minor injuries, said authorities.

The suspect then escorted the victim to a nearby bank and demanded he withdraw money from the ATM, said authorities.

An investigation by detectives from the Bernardsville Police Department along with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Crime Scene Investigation Unit identified Fernandez as the suspect responsible for the robbery.

Fernandez was arrested and charged with first-degree robbery, and second-degree burglary. Fernandez was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing in this matter.

Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Bernardsville Police Department at 908-766-0037/0038 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smartphone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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