Eatontown Man Charged With Attempted Murder Of Police Office Due In Court Today

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, said 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, the prosecutor said.

Eatontown police responded to a pair of 911 calls around 6:43 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, on a report of an armed robbery in progress at the AllTown Pharmacy on Wyckoff Road.

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 out a rear door without any narcotics, Gramiccioni said.

Riley fired at Eatontown police officers, one of whom returned fired. Riley then ran to a vehicle in the Michael’s Plaza parking lot and fled the scene on Route 36. Police located the vehicle, a gray four-door 2007 Nissan Altima, in the rear parking lot of Stony Hill Apartments with damage consistent with bullet hole strikes from a gun, he said.

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. Riley was eventually taken into custody by New York City police officers and where he currently remains in custody. His bail was set at $1.45 million cash. 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.

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