Man Involved In Union Co. Armed Home Invasion Arrested: Prosecutors

UNION COUNTY, NJ — A Union County man was arrested last week, and a co-conspirator remains not found, after their involvement with an armed home invasion robbery in Elizabeth on March 2, Union County prosecutors announced Friday.

Elizabeth Police found an elderly homeowner on Summit Road, near the intersection of Colonia Road, who had been restrained by invaders in her home and was held at gunpoint. Another resident found the elderly woman and cut her loose, according to police.

The two invaders — Herby Desir, 34, of Rahway and Emmanuel Rivera, 33, of Cateret — fled the scene after stealing many of the woman's valuables.

Desir and Rivera are both charged with three counts of first-degree robbery, one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, one count of possession of a firearm for unlawful purposes, one count of third-degree criminal restraint, and one count of second-degree conspiracy in connection with the home invasion.

Desir was arrested on March 24 in Rahway and remains in Union County Jail pending further court proceedings. Rivera remains not found.

According to prosecutors, Emmanuel Rivera is a 33 year-old Hispanic male, standing approximately 5’8”, weighing approximately 160 lbs., has short brown hair, and brown eyes. He has tattoos along his left wrist, his right shoulder and bicep area and across his chest.

This was a joint investigation conducted by the Elizabeth Police Department and the Union County Prosecutor's Office Intelligence Driven Prosecution Unit, with the assistance of the Rahway Police Department.

Anyone with information about this matter or the whereabouts of Emmanuel Rivera is urged to contact Elizabeth Police Detective Louis Demondo at 908-558-2100 or Prosecutor’s Office Detective Katelyn Prata at 908-447-6195.

Prosecutors said anyone coming in contact with Rivera should refrain from approaching or confronting him and should contact the police immediately.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477) or online at www.uctip.org; submission of tips made in this fashion that result in an indictment and conviction can be eligible for a reward of up to $10,000 via the Union County Crime Stoppers.