A 25-year-old Newark man has been charged with dragging a woman with his vehicle during a robbery in Kearny yesterday, as well as drug charges related to suspected crack cocaine.
KEARNY - A 25-year-old Newark man has been charged with dragging a woman with his vehicle during a robbery in Kearny yesterday, and also faces drug charges related to suspected crack cocaine.
Julio A. Rodriguez allegedly "Walked over to a woman walking on the street and asked her for directions. As the woman was giving him directions, he grabbed her purse and tried to get back into his vehicle," Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor John Wojtal said today of the allegations.
The prosecutor said the woman resisted and Rodriguez allegedly "drove off dragging the victim. The victim suffered injuries including a fractured finger."
Rodriguez is charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and leaving leaving a injured and helpless victim. He is also charged with possession of 12 vials containing suspected crack in his vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a hypodermic syringe, officials said.
He has 11 prior arrest, two disorderly persons convictions an a criminal conviction for improper behavior in 2014 for which he served 171 days in jail, a court official said.
Rodriguez's bail was set at $200,000 cash or bond when he made his first court appearance on the charges in Jersey City this afternoon via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny.
