Man Charged In Series Of Armed Gas Station Robberies In Union County

UNION, NJ — A Newark man was arrested and charged in connection with a string of armed gas station robberies, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Union Police Director Christopher Donnelly announced Friday.

On Sept. 13, the Union Police Department arrested Joseph Young, 26, and he was charged with four counts of first-degree robbery, one count of second-degree eluding, three counts of second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, two counts of third-degree aggravated assault, two counts of third-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, one count of third-degree receiving a motor vehicle, and one count of third-degree terroristic threats, according to Union County Prosecutor Nicole Siano, who is prosecuting the case.

On Sept. 5, the New Jersey State Police and Union Police Department received reports of three robberies that had happened within 30 minutes of each other along the Garden State Parkway.

In each robbery, multiple suspects went to a gas station in a stolen vehicle and went up to the victims demanding money and other items at gunpoint, said Daniel.

During two of the robberies, the victims were assaulted, according to the report.

The intensive investigation that followed, led by the Prosecutor’s Office Intelligence-Driven Prosecution Unit, Union Police Department, New Jersey State Police, and Summit Police Department resulted in the identification of Young as one of the suspects in the armed robberies.

He was arrested following a vehicle pursuit in Newark on Sept. 13. Young remains in the Essex County Jail pending further Court proceedings.

"I want to assure the public that the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and our partner law enforcement agencies remain committed to tirelessly pursuing those who threaten the safety and security of the communities we serve," Daniel said.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective William Young of the Union Police Department at 908-851-5037 or Detective Robert Aranda of the New Jersey State Police at 732-441-4500 x 3432.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477) or online at www.uctip.org; submission of tips made in this fashion that result in an arrest and indictment can be eligible for a reward of up to $10,000 via the Union County Crime Stoppers.

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