3 Men Arrested For Armed Robbery At Secaucus Dunkin' Donuts Early Easter Morning

Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller reports that on April 9, 2023 at 2:56 A.M., Secaucus Police responded to the Dunkin’ Donuts located at 216 County Avenue, on a report of an armed robbery.  Two males, later identified as Ocean Roberts and Yanik Pendleton, entered the establishment and Roberts brandished a black handgun.  While holding the store employee at gunpoint, they stole approximately $350 in cash from the register and fled to an awaiting Chevrolet Equinox, that was occupied.    Wilmer Arias-Dejesus and another male acted as “lookouts” while Pendleton and Roberts were inside the Dunkin Donuts.

Approximately two-and-a-half hours later, at 5:41 A.M. on April 9, 2023, these individuals were involved in another armed robbery of a Dunkin’ Donuts located at 177 Washington Avenue in Nutley.  Detectives from the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit worked collaboratively with Nutley Police Detectives and broadcasted the information gathered to all law enforcement agencies in the State.  

On April 11, 2023 at 12:15 A.M., a diligent police officer from the Springfield, NJ Police Department located the Chevrolet Equinox in a parking lot near a Wawa in that jurisdiction.  After an on-scene investigation was conducted by the Springfield Police Department, officers located a black 9mm handgun with a defaced serial number and seventeen round magazine within the Chevrolet Equinox.  Roberts was placed under arrest for unlawfully possessing the handgun.  

After a thorough investigation was conducted by detectives from the Secaucus Police Anti-Crime Unit and Nutley Police Department, with assistance from the Springfield Police Department, arrests were made in the armed robberies.  

“Since criminals operate with no jurisdictional boundaries, as is evident in this case, the only way law enforcement can succeed is to share information and work collaboratively,” Chief Dennis Miller said.  “I want to commend the keen eye of the Springfield Police Officer who utilized shared intelligence to make an arrest and start the momentum in solving these armed robberies.  I also want to commend all of the detectives involved from the Secaucus and Nutley Police Departments in bringing this robbery crew to a screeching halt, it is amazing what can be accomplished when law enforcement joins forces and works together.”

On April 11, 2023, Ocean Roberts, 19, of Bayonne, was arrested and charged with Armed Robbery [2C:15-1a], Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery [2C:5-2a(1)/2C:15-2a], Unlawful Possession of Handgun [2C:39-5(b)], Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose [2C:39-4a(1)], Possession of a Defaced Firearm [2C:39-3(d)], Possession of a High Capacity Magazine [2C:39-3(j)], Aggravated Assault [2C:12-1b(4)], Criminal Restraint [2C:13-2a] and Endangering the Welfare of a Child [2C:24-4a(2)].  He is being held in the Essex County Jail. 

On April 15, 2023, Yanik Pendleton, 22, of Bayonne was arrested and charged with Armed Robbery [2C:15-1a], Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery [2C:5-2a(1)/2C:15-2a].  He was transported to the Hudson County Jail.  

On April 16, 2023, Wilmer Arias-Dejesus, 19, of East Newark, was arrested and charged with Armed Robbery [2C:15-1a], Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery [2C:5-2a(1)/2C:15-2a].  He was transported to the Hudson County Jail.  

The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests may follow.  Anyone with additional information can contact the Secaucus Police Detective Division at (201) 330-2052 or detectivedivsion@secaucusnjpolice.gov.  These charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.