While the Violent Crime Interdiction Task Force, which combines Trenton police with county law enforcement, typically operates at night, unit commander Lt. Lenny Aviles directed them to work during the daytime this weekend.
Trenton Police Department Detective Stew Owens stands near the conclusion of a car chase on Cass Street in the city in Feb. 2012.
TRENTON – A task force formed to combat violent crime in the city took to the streets during the day on Saturday, arresting two robbery suspects and two men wanted for gun crimes, police said.
While the Violent Crime Interdiction Task Force, which combines Trenton police with county law enforcement, typically operates at night, unit commander Lt. Lenny Aviles directed them to work during the daytime this weekend.
The two men with weapons charges – a shooting suspect and a man who allegedly pointed a gun at someone – were arrested across the street from one another at the same time, Sgt. Tony Manzo said.
“Two violent offenders off the street in one swoop,” said Manzo, who heads up Tactical Anti-Crime (TAC) Unit 2.
Task force members first arrested two teenagers around 1:30 p.m. out of a group of three who had beaten and robbed a city man. The task force and patrol officers raced to the 300 block of Rutherford Avenue when the robbery was reported.
“We swarmed the area,” Manzo said.
They captured the 16-year-old and 14-year-old boys who were identified as the robbers, seizing a replica 9 mm handgun one allegedly used during the robbery. The hunt continues for the third suspect, Manzo said.
Juvenile petitions were lodged against the two for armed robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose. They were taken to the Middlesex County Youth Correction Center.
Shortly afterward, TAC Detectives Brian Suschke and Frederick Bender were near St. Joes Avenue when they saw Andre Romero, who was wanted for allegedly pointing a gun at another person on Girard Avenue last month.
“They look across the street, and lo and behold, there’s a Terrance Smith who’s wanted for an aggravated assault – shooting,” Manzo said.
Suschke and Bender hurried across the street to arrest Smith as well on the warrant charges. Both men are known Bloods gang members, Manzo said. They were taken to the Mercer County Corrections Center, where they were held on the warrant charges.
The task force made a total of seven arrests while working Saturday, Manzo said.
Contact Alex Zdan at azdan@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5705.