Howell Man Charged In Armed Robberies Of Hotel, Spa

HOWELL, NJ — A Howell Township man has been arrested in connection with armed robberies at a hotel and a spa in Bergen County in January 2019, and he and another man are suspects in similar robberies around the state, authorities said Tuesday.

Christopher Ojeda, 31, of Howell, and Dajan Mindingall, 27, of Eatontown, were arrested Thursday, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said, when search warrants were executed at their homes and on a vehicle. Ojeda was arrested in Howell, and Mindingall was arrested in Asbury Park, he said.

The two are accused of robbing the Extended Stay Hotel in Rutherford and the Queen Spa in Edgewater, while armed with handguns. Authorities did not give additional details of the robberies, but said Ojeda and Mindingall are suspects in similar robberies that have happened throughout the state and the investigation into those robberies is continuing.

Ojeda and Mindingall are each charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree possession of a handgun without a permit, second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose and second-degree attempted aggravated sexual assault, Musella said.

The two were being held at the Bergen County Jail pending first appearances in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack on Wednesday.

Musella thanked the Edgewater, Rutherford, Eatontown, Asbury Park, Howell, Woodbridge, South Plainfield, North Brunswick, Green Brook, West Long Branch, Cherry Hill, Linden and Secaucus Police Departments, and the Monmouth County, Hudson County, and Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Offices for their assistance in the investigation.

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