Arrest (2) - Attempted Robbery

[Lt. Robert Osborn]

On Tuesday January 17, 2012 at approximately 9:40pm, the Newton Police
Department received a 9-1-1 call from the Busy Bee Gas Station,
located at 86 Mill Street, in reference to a robbery. Patrol Officers
arrived and met with the victim, who works as a gas attendant at the
gas station. The victim stated that he was attending to a customer at
the gas pumps when he was attacked from behind by an unknown subject.
A brief struggle ensued and the victim was able to break free from the
subject, but was then attacked by another subject. Both subjects then
physically restrained the victim and attempted to steal money from
him. Before the subjects were able to steal any money, the victim was
able free himself. He was able run into the store where he called the
police. The subjects then fled the scene. The victim was unharmed as
a result of the incident.

Witnesses at the scene remained with the victim until the police
arrived. The actors were described as white males and both were
wearing dark colored clothing. Both actors were wearing bandanas to
conceal their identity. According to the witnesses, during the attack
the bandana of one of the actor’s fell off of his face which led to
his possible identity. A vehicle was seen in the vicinity prior to
the incident occurring. This same vehicle was also seen leaving the
area just after the incident occurred. Subsequently, it was learned
that the vehicle seen in the area was associated with the possible
suspect. Officers located and interviewed associates of one of the
possible suspects. During the course of these interviews, the
suspects were identified as Eddie G. Morales and Alex F. Straway, both
of Newton. A vehicle that is used by Morales matched the description
of the vehicle that was seen in the area.

On January 18, 2012 at 3:09am, Officers located Straway at a residence
on Emmons Avenue in Newton and he was taken into custody without
incident. At 11:03am, Morales’s vehicle was located behind a business
on Spring Street. The location where Morales’s vehicle was found is a
short distance from his residence. At 11:06am, Morales was located at
his residence and taken into custody without incident.

Suspects:

• Eddie G. Morales, 20 year male of Newton
• Alex F. Straway, 19 year old male of Newton

Charges:

• Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, N.J.S 2C:5-2a(1) of 2C:15-1a(1), a
Crime of the Second Degree
• Criminal Attempt to Commit Robbery, N.J.S. 2C:5-1a(1) of 2C:
15-1a(1), a Crime of the Second Degree

Criminal complaints were prepared and complaint warrants were issued
by Judge John E. Mulhern, JMC, who set bail at $125,000 with 10% for
both Morales and Straway. They were lodged in the Sussex County Jail
in default of bail. The investigation was conducted by officers of
the Newton Police Department’s Patrol Division and Detective Bureau.