DNA Led To Ocean County Suspects' IDs in 2020 Robbery: Authorities

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Two Ocean County men who were charged in a September 2020 robbery are accused of telling the victim they were law enforcement as they grabbed him off the steps of his front porch, authorities said.

Nicholas Polimeni, 27, of Toms River, and Anthony Naso, 27, of Seaside Heights, were arrested last week following an 18-month investigation, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Friday. Both were charged with second-degree counts of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, and fourth-degree impersonating law enforcement, Musella said.

According to the probable cause affidavit, the victim told police he was walking up the steps to his front door shortly before 10 p.m. on Sept. 11, 2020 when three men grabbed him. The men told him they were law enforcement, so initially, the victim cooperated, he told police. When the men ignored his request that they show their badges, the victim fought back while the men tried to zip-tie his hands, according to the affidavit. As the victim screamed for help and kept fighting, the men took off in two vehicles, the affidavit said.

Surveillance videos and witnesses led to police discovering a mask, gloves, screws and a police-style badge in a parking lot several blocks from the robbery, the affidavit said, and investigators were able to connect them to two vehicles — a silver sedan and a black pickup truck — that were seen at the robbery.

DNA recovered from the mask was tested and found to belong to Polimeni, the affidavit said, and Naso was identified as someone Polimeni had "a longstanding association" with, according to the affidavit.

Investigators then identified Naso as having been at the robbery scene through photos from surveillance video from the victim's Ring doorbell camera, the affidavit said. In addition, Naso was found to own a black GMC Canyon with "distinctive side steps and a sticker" on the driver's side bumper that matched one seen in video from the robbery, the affidavit said.

The affidavit said a man who is known to be friends with Polimeni and Naso drives a vehicle that matches the description of the silver sedan. That man was not named in the affidavit; authorities have not said whether he has been arrested or charged.

Get local news updates delivered to your inbox. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters here. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Toms River Patch on Facebook.