Assault Suspect Turns Himself In For Somerset County Crime

A 22-year-old aggravated assault suspect turned himself in to a Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office detective last week for a robbery committed in Somerset County last month.

Deshawn Carreker, of New Brunswick, was later turned over to Somerset County detectives.

According to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office:

• At approximately 11:20 p.m. on June 24, Franklin Township Police responded to a Route 27 convenience store on a report of an aggravated assault.
• Officers met with the 35-year-old victim who told the officers that a male, later identified as Divendra Bhim, had asked to meet with him at the Country Side apartments in the Somerset section of Franklin Township.
• Once the victim arrived at that location, the victim was approached by Bhim and two other unknown males who proceeded to rob and assault him.

Through an investigation it was later discovered that Bhim drove Carreker and a second man known as “Tyrone” to the apartment complex to sell marijuana to the victim.

Once they arrived, Carreker proceeded to punch and kick the victim as “Tyrone” struck the victim in the head with a handgun.

The incident left the victim with a broken jaw which required surgery at an area hospital.

Bhim and Carreker were charged with:

• Robbery, 1st Degree,
• Conspiracy, 2nd Degree,
• Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, 2nd Degree
• and Aggravated Assault, 2nd Degree.

Carreker was lodged in the Somerset County Jail with bail set at $150,000 cash only and Bhim was lodged in the Somerset County Jail with bail set at $100,000 cash only.

Prosecutor Soriano, Chief Fitzgerald and Chief Roberts request anyone with information regarding this investigation to contact the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533, the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100, or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”.