East Rutherford, NJ – Three men are facing charges in connection with a violent armed robbery that was interrupted by a police officer on patrol in East Rutherford, prosecutors announced.
The incident unfolded around 1:30 a.m. on July 8, when an East Rutherford officer on routine patrol heard a woman screaming for help near Paterson Avenue and Clifton Avenue. The officer spotted two masked men, dressed in dark clothing and armed with handguns, confronting the woman. Both suspects bolted as the officer approached.
Investigators said the men had entered the victim’s car, pointed guns at her, and then chased her when she tried to run. One suspect allegedly pushed her to the ground and covered her mouth, ordering her to stay quiet.
Police quickly caught Jamil N. Tuncer, 24, of Wallington, who was found near the scene. He was charged with armed robbery, multiple weapons offenses, resisting arrest, and aggravated assault, and has been held at the Bergen County Jail since his arrest.
A two-month investigation later identified Jakub P. Lepianka, 23, of Passaic, as the second masked gunman, and Michael A. Rodriguez, 27, also of Passaic, as the getaway driver of a black Dodge Durango used in the crime.
Lepianka, already in custody in New York on an unrelated matter, was charged on July 15 with armed robbery and related offenses. He remains jailed in New York pending extradition. Rodriguez was charged on August 26 and taken into custody on September 4 with the help of state parole officers. He is also being held at the Bergen County Jail.
Prosecutor Mark Musella stressed that all charges are accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. He credited multiple agencies, including East Rutherford Police, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, and the New Jersey State Parole Board, for assisting in the investigation.
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Key Points
- A July 8 armed robbery in East Rutherford was interrupted by a patrolling officer who spotted two masked gunmen.
- Jamil N. Tuncer was arrested at the scene, while Jakub P. Lepianka and Michael A. Rodriguez were later identified and charged.
- All three men face first-degree armed robbery and multiple weapons charges.
A late-night patrol turned a dangerous robbery into a sweeping investigation that netted three suspects.