A man who assaulted the owners and robbed a Jersey City grocery store three times in six days was captured by a waiting police officer when he came back a fourth time.
Store surveillance video taken Friday night at Augie’s Grocery Deli shows the violent perp jumping across the counter, just as he had the previous three times between Jan. 10 and Jan. 16. Only this time instead of getting away with cash or merchandise, the robber was stunned when off-duty Police Officer Maurice Johnson — who had stopped by to check on the store — jumped out from the back of the store.
The robber took off for the exit, but he was caught and arrested around the corner by Johnson and the store owner’s son, Agustin Lopez Jr., who is also a Jersey City police officer.
“I feel much, much safer now,” said the 77-year-old Augie Lopez Sr., who told The Jersey Journal last week that he was fearful every time someone wearing a ski mask came through the door.
The robber was identified as 34-year-old Travis Nealey. He was charged with four counts of strong armed robbery and one count resisting arrest, Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said. Nealey was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center after his arrest “due to possibly being under the influence of CDS,” and he was released into police custody after being examined by JCMC staff, Wallace-Scalcione said.
Lopez said his son had been keeping an eye on the store at 325 Old Bergen Rd., but had to leave for a few minutes, so Johnson stopped by.
“He was going to stand outside the store, but I told him to ‘come inside and sit down, but don’t let yourself be seen,’ ” Lopez said. “You never know. If the (robber) sees someone out front he’s not going to come in.”
Lopez Jr., who was returning to the store when the robber attempted to flee, broke his ankle helping make the arrest, his father said.
“When I am suffering in pain, this guy doesn’t want to go to jail,” said Lopez, who suffered numerous bruises when he was assaulted and shoved to the floor during the first two robberies.
Nealey, currently at the Hudson County jail, made his first court appearance Tuesday and a detention hearing has been scheduled for Friday.
mybustlinghedgerow on January 26th, 2022 at 15:28 UTC »
How often did people with ski masks come in??
craftasopolis on January 26th, 2022 at 15:17 UTC »
The robber took off for the exit, but he was caught and arrested around the corner by Johnson and the store owner’s son, Agustin Lopez Jr., who is also a Jersey City police officer.
blackop on January 26th, 2022 at 13:52 UTC »
Well they might as well stick around, he will be let off and be right back in a couple days.