Man Robbed Somerset County Wawa At Knifepoint: Prosecutor

FRANKLIN, NJ – A Franklin Park man was arrested for robbing a Wawa at knifepoint in Franklin Township, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson announced.

On Saturday at around 1:49 a.m. an employee reported a man, later identified Dupre J. McCalla, 45, of Pear Tree Lane, went into the gas attendant booth and tried to take cash from the register.

The employee saw what was happening, entered the booth and confronted McCalla who then took out a knife, according to the report.

The employee backed out, closing the door of the booth to hold the McCalla inside. While McCalla tried to escape, he dropped both the money and the knife, according to the report.

McCalla eventually was able to open the door and picked up the knife and a handful of money and fled the area.

A total of $440 was reportedly stolen from the cash register in the gas attendant booth.

Franklin Township Police patrol officers found McCalla in the area. He gave officers a fake name and was arrested, Robertson said.

Franklin Police Officers found $105 in cash on McCalla.

The employee reportedly sustained minor abrasions and wrist pain from attempting to hold the attendant booth door closed.

McCalla was charged with first-degree robbery, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and fourth-degree hindering apprehension.

McCalla was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100, or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 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: Dupre J. McCalla, 45, of Pear Tree Lane of Franklin Park)