3 Men Rob Uber Driver At Gunpoint In Ocean County: Police

JACKSON, NJ -- Jackson Township police are searching for three men who are accused of robbing an Uber driver at gunpoint in the township after being driven there from New York City.

A distraught man flagged down Jackson Lt. John Giovanetti about 2:15 p.m. Sunday in the area of the Forest Resource Education Center on Don Connor Boulevard, who claimed to be the victim of a robbery that had just occurred, Capt. Steven Laskiewicz said in a news release.

The man told police he is an Uber driver and had picked up three males in Manhattan to drive them to a residence on Wilson Boulevard, which is located in a neighborhood off Don Connor Boulevard, Laskiewicz said. Once in the area, the victim saw that one of the three men was on a cell phone appearing to arrange a meeting with another person.

The victim then left the neighborhood without stopping at the residence and made a right turn onto Don Connor Boulevard, heading toward Bowman Road, Laskiewicz said. The three suspects reportedly became agitated and one pulled out a handgun and began to yell at the victim, he said. The victim pulled into the Forest Resource Education Center and the suspects stole his cash, along with his cell phone and car keys. They reportedly threw his car keys into the woods as they fled to a red vehicle driven by an unknown person, which then left the scene in the direction of Bowman Road, Laskiewicz said.

The suspects were described as:

Suspect 1: Black male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with an Adidas emblem on it, and carrying a backpack.

Suspect 2: Black or Hispanic male wearing a red shirt, gray jeans and a “shiny” black jacket.

Suspect 3: Black male approximately 6 feet tall, clean shaven, short curly hair, wearing a tan jacket, white shirt, blue jeans and tan Timberland style boots. This suspect reportedly brandished a gunmetal-colored revolver which was believed to be loaded at the time, Laskiewicz said.

The vehicle that picked the suspects up as they fled the scene was believed to be a red Pontiac (no further information) operated by an unknown person, he said.

Uber officials said the company is helping in the investigation.

"We’re in touch with this driver, as well as with law enforcement, to offer any support we can and to assist in the investigation," said Craig Ewer, a spokesman for Uber.

Anyone who may have witnessed anything in the area or who may have any information about this incident is asked to contact Jackson Police Detective John Rodriguez at 732-928-1111.