Armed Robbery Outside SOPL on Thursday Night

A 27-year-old woman from Springfield was robbed in the municipal lot adjacent to the South Orange Public Library on Thursday at around 8:30 p.m.

According to Police Chief James Chelel, the victim was in her car looking through her wallet when a black male—described as having a heavy build and a scruffy beard, about 6' to 6'2" in height, and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a white hat—approached and pointed an object she thought was a gun at her. He told her to give him everything she had, and she turned over her wallet, containing credit and debit cards, and various personal belongings.

The suspect reportedly fled east on Comstock Place and then north on Scotland Road.

The South Orange Rescue Squad responded to the scene, but the woman refused medical attention.

About five minutes later, Officer Adrian Acevedo was canvassing the area for a suspect when he came upon a man who vaguely matched the description at Scotland Road and Montrose Ave. Acevedo patted him down for weapons and noticed a large bulge in the small of his back, which turned out to be over 120 vials of crack cocaine. He also had $1,200 in cash on his person.

The man—identified as Edward Okouko, of Newark—was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession within 1,000 feet of a school zone (Marylawn of the Oranges).

Okouko is being held at the South Orange Police Department, awaiting transport to county jail.

Det. Steven Davenport is working the robbery case. Anyone with tips can reach him at 973-763-3000, ext. 7795.