2 Men Charged In Armed Hillsborough Home Invasion

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Two men were charged in connection with an armed home invasion in Hillsborough in August.

Jhamir I. Hoagland, 18, of Taylor Road in Franklin Township and Omar S. Griggs, Jr., 18, with a last known address of Hempstead Drive in Franklin Township were charged, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson.

At around 1:20 a.m. on Aug. 16, a Mersher Court homeowner called 911 to report hearing the doorbell ring and the motion light detection outside activate. No one was reportedly seen outside, but then the homeowner heard noises inside the home.

When Hillsborough Police responded they saw two men, later identified as Hoagland and Griggs, Jr., in the fenced-in area near the backyard who then ran away when they spotted authorities, Robertson said.

Police along with K-9 from the Somerset County Sheriff's Office and New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit searched the area and could not find the two men.

An investigation by Hillsborough Detectives found a broken basement window with blood on it and a .38 caliber revolver inside and a discharged bullet inside the basement, according to the report.

Hoagland was arrested at around 6 a.m., when he tried to enter his 1999 Volkswag en Jetta that had been parked overnight near the crime scene. (See Related: Franklin Teen Charged With Armed Home Invasion In Hillsborough)

The Jetta was later towed from the scene and searched where police found personal identification information belonging to Griggs, Jr., .380 caliber bullets, and property that had recently been stolen during another burglary, according to Robertson.

Griggs, Jr. was also seen a surveillance camera trying to enter the home after 6 a.m. and then stealing a bicycle from the property and peddling away, according to the report.

Both Hoagland and Griggs, Jr. were charged with second-degree burglary, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, fourth-degree resisting arrest by flight, and two counts of receiving stolen property.

Griggs, Jr., was separately charged with third-degree attempted burglary and fourth-degree theft.

Hoagland is currently lodged at the Somerset County Jail awaiting trial on the charges. Griggs, Jr., is currently at large and wanted on an arrest warrant on the burglary charges.

Anyone with information pertaining to this investigation or Griggs’ whereabouts is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100, or the Hillsborough Township Police Department at 908-369-4323 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone 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) or online at www.888577tips.org or at www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

(Image via Somerset County Prosecutor's Office: From left - Omar S. Griggs, Jr., 18, with a last known address of Hempstead Drive in Franklin Township and Jhamir I. Hoagland, 18, of Taylor Road in Franklin Township)

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