Man Charged In Armed Robbery Of Woman In Maplewood: Police

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood police have charged a Newark man in connection with a robbery of a woman in the Township on Saturday night after she left an Irvington cafe.

Police have charged Zykee Gregory, 19, with robbery, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a firearm without a permit.

Police said that the 30-year-old woman was walking to her car in front of 1013 Chancellor Ave. in Maplewood after leaving the 43rd St Café in Irvington at approximately 11:45 p.m.on Saturday.

The woman told police that a man said, "Don't walk no further and give me everything you got." When she turned around, she saw a man she thought was 25-30 years old, 5'6", holding a black handgun, she said.

The woman handed him her iPhone 12 and a wallet with cash and ID.

Maplewood Police Chief Jimmy DeVaul said that the man fled in an SUV whose description was similar to a vehicle seen after other Essex County robberies.

The man in the Saturday robbery entered a black SUV on the passenger side, which fled north, then west onto 44th Street.

Hours after the Maplewood robbery, DuVaul said, Newark police arrested a male and female in a black SUV in connection with a different armed robbery.

The Newark police recovered the black handgun that police say was used in the Maplewood robbery.

However, police have not linked Gregory to other recent robberies of women in Essex County.

On Saturday, Jan. 22, there were a total of nine robberies of women in Essex County on one day, all of which occurred in Irvington and Maplewood.

Anyone with information can contact Lt. Palmerezzi at 973-761-7913 or mpalmerezzi@twp.maplewood.nj.us.

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