By Charles Layton
Last October we reported on a bicyclist who accosted two young women in Ocean Grove near Wesley Lake. He struggled with one of the women, wrested an iPhone from her and fled on foot across the Founders Park bridge, leaving his bike behind.
Today, Neptune police announced that they have charged Garfield Edwards, 24, with that crime.
Edwards had been previously charged with a similar robbery on the Ocean Grove boardwalk. That case, which is being handled by the county prosecutor’s office, is still pending. To read about the incident, go here.
On Thursday of this week, Edwards was charged again, this time for the October 3 robbery of the two women. On that occasion, the women, from Brooklyn, NY, were walking near the intersection of Mt. Zion Way and New York Avenue when a young man in a gray hoodie approached them on a bike and, as he paused, grabbed the iPhone. The owner of the phone struggled with the man, and he abandoned his bike and retreated on foot.
On Friday, in a press release, police identified that assailant as Edwards. He was charged with robbery and theft. Police said they were able to link him to the October robbery through physical evidence.
Edwards is incarcerated in Monmouth County Jail on bail of $25,000. To read our original story about the robbery, go here.
Ogrover … Job well done. Thank you for doing the right thing.
The ‘suspect’ not only left a bike and a hoodie while fleeing after the struggle with the young ladies, there was an unopened knife as well.
Open note to Mr. Edwards: In my day it was considered dishonorable to fight with a girl. But to lose the fight, and to run away leaving your bike on the ground beside her — that would have been considered humiliation of the first order.
Still, you did well.
I am very happy about this arrest. It happened on my street in broad daylight and I was deeply upset for the young ladies who were simply visiting, looking for a place to have lunch. I heard the ruckus and chased after him, but alas, he had me by 30 years.
What do you want to bet he stole the bike he was riding as well?