A Strong-Arm Robbery Reported At Bloomfield And Park

Less than 24 hours after Montclair police arrested a man they said could be responsible for a string of recent armed robberies, a strong-arm robbery was reported at Bloomfield Avenue and Park Street.

The suspect was wearing a wool hat and fled the scene, according to a published report Thursday.

Patch is waiting for more information on the incident from Montclair Police.

Only Wednesday night, police arrested Fred Tunis following an armed robbery at Ma Dear's Southern Cuisine on Glenridge Avenue—a man they said could be responsible for a string of similar crimes in Montclair in the past week and a half, Montclair Police said Thursday.

At about 7:45 p.m., police say they went to the restaurant and were told that the suspect—described as a heavyset black man about 6 feet tall wearing dark clothing—had fled the scene.

Police spoke to the victim, a 45-year-old man, who said the suspect had come in holding an unidentified “pointy object” covered in a dark glove. He said that the suspect was also wearing a black hat, dark-colored scarf, dark-colored pants, and black gloves.

According to the victim, the suspect entered the store and said  “Give me all your money.” The victim then removed about $100 in bills of various denominations and turned them over to the suspect. The suspect then quickly counted the money and fled on Bay Street towards Highland Avenue in Glen Ridge.

Police launched a search for the suspect and, shortly after 8 p.m., a detective spotted a man fitting the provided description coming out of the rear yard of a Bay Street home. Upon seeing the detective, the man reversed direction. Police in the area were notified and officers detained the man, later identified as Fred Tunis, in the area of Highland Avenue and Bay Street.

Officers spoke to Tunis, who claimed that he was visiting a cousin, but could not provide the cousin’s name or the address that he was visiting. When asked where he was from, Tunis became belligerent and responded, “Mother f...... Newark.” Police reported that the subject appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, as he had the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath. Tunis then became violent and began to flail his arms at the officers while screaming and attempting to shove his way past the officers. Tunis was then taken to the ground, where he repeatedly resisted attempts to be handcuffed and be placed in the patrol car.

Detectives searched the yard where Tunis was spotted and located a black hat and dark blue scarf. Police were unable to locate any weapon that may have been used in this incident.

Police arrested Tunis, 28, of Newark for robbery, defiant trespass, obstructing the administration of law, and resisting arrest. Bail was set at $100,000.

Police are investigating whether Tunis was involved in a series of other robberies that have occurred around Montclair in the last week and a half. Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Terence Turner at (973) 509-4724.        

Entry to a Motor Vehicle

On Feb. 9 at about 10:50 p.m., a man told police that someone had rummaged through his Jeep Wrangler in the Lackawanna Plaza Parking Lot. He said nothing was missing from the car and there was no evidence of forced entry. However, the man said he had locked the car but found it unlocked when he returned.

The man said  that when he was returning to his car, he saw someone trying to get into another car, and it wasn't clear whether the person was trying to get into his own car or was breaking into a car. The suspect is described as a medium-skinned, possibly Indian or Hispanic male, approximately 6’2” and last seen wearing a black winter hat, “puffy” black jacket, tan pants, and dark shoes.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Det. Charles Cunningham at (973) 509-4716.

Theft

On Feb. 9 at about 11:15 p.m., a woman reported the theft of a recycling bin on Mission Street. The bin is valued at $10 and there are no suspects.

Foot Pursuit

On Feb. 9, detectives were conducting an investigation on Pine Street when they saw a man loitering in the area. Detectives approached the man, but  he fled when the detectives said they were police officers.

Police pursued him on foot and the man was last seen jumping a fence on a Pine Street property and running east behind the house. Police searched the area, but were unable to locate him.

The suspect is described as a black man, about 25 years old. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, black “skull hat,” and blue jeans. Anyone wishing to report drug activity is asked to contact (973) 509-4720.