Westfield Man 'Pistol Whipped' In Home Invasion: Police

WESTFIELD, NJ — Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro announced Sunday afternoon that a home invasion and armed robbery was reported on the 200 block of Cacciola Place on Saturday around 10 p.m.

The police said that they responded to an initial report from a neighbor of an apparent dispute inside the first floor apartment.

According to police, the first arriving officer attempted to make contact with the apartment’s occupants and, after identifying himself as the police, subsequently observed multiple suspects exit out of a bedroom window and flee the area in a gray Cadillac Escalade, which was parked just outside.

Additional responding officers attempted to pursue the fleeing vehicle east on South Avenue East into Garwood, but reported it was traveling at an extremely high rate of speed with its headlights off, and they lost sight of it.

Police said they investigated and determined that the victim, a male in his late 20s, reported there was a knock at the door. Upon opening it, four black males wearing masks then forced their way in, according to the victim. At least three of the four suspects reportedly brandished firearms, according to what the victim told police.

Police said, "The victim was reportedly thrown to the ground, 'pistol whipped,' and threatened."

Police said the apartment, also occupied by a female in her late 20s at the time of the incident, was subsequently ransacked.

The Westfield Police Department’s Detective Bureau responded to the scene. It was assisted with a search of the scene by the Union County Sheriff’s Office. The victim sustained a contusion to his forehead as well as other minor injuries and refused medical attention. The female occupant was uninjured.

Two of the suspects were further described as wearing white “hoodies” in addition to masks. Another suspect was further described as “heavy set” and wearing a blue shirt.

Anyone with additional information relating to this incident is asked to contact Detective Dennis DaSilva of the Westfield Police Department at 908-789-4000 (Extension 0).

In related Westfield police news, police announced the arrests over the past week of six suspects in recent car thefts.

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