Morris County Teen Charged In 7-Eleven Robbery Attempt; Had 300 Xanax, Police Say

By Karen Wall

A Mendham teen and a Toms River teen are facing robbery and drug charges in connection with an attempt to rob a 7-Eleven on Route 37 early Sunday morning, police said.

Igor Gonzalez, 19, of Mendham, is being held in the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $75,000, no 10 percent, and a 17-year-old male from King Street in Toms River is being held without bail at the Ocean County Juevnile Detention Center pending an appearance before a judge, Toms River Police spokesman Ralph Stocco said.

Both are being held on charges of second-degree robbery, as well as charges of possession of marijuana and 300 Xanax pills, Stocco said.

Toms River police were called to the 7-Eleven at 3101 Route 37 east about 3 a.m., Stocco said, in response to an alarm at the store. The clerk told officers that a young male wearing sunglasses handed over a note that said “Let’s make this easy,” and demanded $1,000.

The clerk refused, and told police the man fled in a BMW, Stocco said.

A description of the car was sent out to all surrounding towns and within an hour, Ocean County Sheriff’s Officers Stephen Capoano and Phillip Sickinger located the suspect vehicle in Seaside Heights, he said. Capoano and Sickinger, who were on supplemental patrol, detained the car and its occupants at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Ocean Terrace until Toms River Officer Lawrence DiFabio arrived, Stocco said, and DiFabio determined the two men were the ones wanted in the incident at the 7-Eleven.

The investigation determined that Gonzalez was the driver of the 2003 BMW, while the 17-year-old was the one who entered the store with the intent to rob it, Stocco said.

Both are being held on charges of second-degree robbery; additionally, they were found to be in possession of marijuana and 300 Xanax pills, Stocco said.

(Igor Gonzalez of Mendham; photo courtesy of Toms River Police Department)