Police said officers saw the men trying to flee the convenience store's parking lot after another man was allegedly robbed of $140 in cash.
HILLSIDE -- Officers arrested five men after one of them robbed a man in the 7-Eleven parking lot Saturday night and the others attempted to help him get away, police said.
Shortly after 10:30 p.m., officers saw a gray 2006 Dodge Charger arrive at the Liberty Avenue convenience store at a rapid speed with an open back door, according to Det. Lt. Vincent Ricciardi.
Five men were arrested for robbery in a 7-Eleven parking lot Saturday night, police said. He said one of the four men in the car yelled to a man who was involved in a struggle in the parking lot, saying "Come on! Let's go! Get in!"
Police ended the struggle, and one of the men jumped into the Charger, Ricciardi said.
The other man told police he had just been robbed of $140 in cash, according to Ricciardi.
Other police units arrived and stopped the Charger, he said.
MORE: Dad tried to steal TV with 5-year-old son in tow, Linden police say
Ricciardi said the Charger's occupants were Rickardo Francis, 19, of Orange; Jason Hene, 20, of Maplewood; Dyshear Hicks, 19, of Orange; Brandon Jenkins, 19, of Orange; and Marlon E. McKenley, Jr., 19, of Maplewood.
All of them, except McKenley, were charged with robbery, Ricciardi said. He said all five were also charged with possession of 37 pills of prescription narcotics and under 50 grams of marijuana.
Ricciardi said McKenley was released without bail, and the other four men are being held at Hillside police headquarters, pending transport to Union County jail.
Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
