NJ Cop Saves Screaming Woman From Armed, Masked Robbers, Prosecutors Say

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Three men have been arrested in connection with the armed robbery of a woman in Bergen County earlier this summer, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Jamil N. Tuncer, 23, of Wallington, Jakub P. Lepianka, 23 of Passaic, and Michael A. Rodriguez, 27, of Passaic have been charged in connection with the July 8 incident in East Rutherford.

An officer on patrol heard a woman yelling for help around 1:30 a.m. near the intersection of Paterson Avenue and Clifton Avenue, officials said.

The officer saw two masked men, both armed, wearing dark-colored clothing who fled the scene on foot, officials said.

The woman had been sitting inside her car when the two masked suspects approached, entered the car, and pointed handguns at her, prosecutors say.

She began screaming and ran away, but one of the suspects pushed her to the ground.

Police apprehended Tuncer nearby, but a two-month investigation determined that the two men had run in different directions, and a third suspect had been involved as the driver.

Lepianka and Rodriguez were apprehended on July 15 and this past Thursday, respectively.

Tuncer was charged with first-degree armed robbery, weapons offenses, and resisting arrest by flight.

Lepianka was charged with first-degree armed robbery, weapons charges, and resisting arrest by flight.

Rodriguez was charged with first-degree armed robbery, weapons charges, and fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a
firearm at another.