by Charles Webster, MCPO
FREEHOLD-An Eatontown man charged with the attempted murder of Eatontown police officers, during an armed robbery last month will have a first appearance in court today, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Aaron Riley, 31 of Wedgewood Circle in Eatontown, is charged with two counts of first degree Attempted Murder, and one count each of first degree Armed Robbery, second degree Certain Persons not to have a Weapon and second degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose after Riley fired at Eatontown police officers, one of whom returned fired during an armed robbery in progress on December 20, 2016.
Eatontown police responded to a pair of 911 calls around 6:43 p.m. Tuesday, December 20, 2016, reporting an armed robbery in progress at the AllTown Pharmacy on Wyckoff Road. While the officers were responding, Riley was inside the pharmacy demanding prescription narcotics from an employee. Eatontown police arrived on scene with the suspect inside the pharmacy, but he soon after fled the scene out a rear door without any narcotics.
While Riley was fleeing the scene on foot, he fired at Eatontown police officers, one of whom returned fired. Riley then ran to a vehicle in the Michael’s Plaza parking lot and was seen fleeing the scene on Route 36 West. During the investigation, police located the vehicle, a gray four-door 2007 Nissan Altima in the rear parking lot of Stony Hill Apartments with damage consistent with projectile strikes from a gun.
Monmouth County detectives subsequently received information from the New York Police Department that Riley was in their jurisdiction with a gunshot injury to his leg. The investigation continued in New York City, where Riley was eventually taken into custody by New York City police officers and where he currently remains in custody. Bail was set at $1.45 million with no 10 percent and Riley was also ordered to have no victim contact and not to return to the scene by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman, P.J.Cr.
Riley’s first appearance is scheduled for 12:00 p.m., January 6, 2017, before Judge Bauman.