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Armed Man Charged with Franklin Twp. Home Invasion; Second Suspect Sought

Franklin Township (Somerset)

Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor and Hillsborough Township Chief of Police, Darren Powell announced the arrest of Jhamir Hoagland, 18, of Taylor Drive, Franklin Township.

Prosecutor Robertson stated that Thursday, at approximately 1:20 a.m., authorities from the Somerset County Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call.

Authorities say the homeowner reported the doorbell rang and the motion light detection outside their residence located on Mersher Court, Hillsborough, was activated.

According to police the homeowner initially reported no one was observed outside the residence but then heard noises within the residence.

Hillsborough Township Police immediately responded to the scene, upon arrival observed two males in the fenced in area near the rear yard of the residence.

The two unknown males fled on foot once they observed the police officers. A search of the area for the two males with the assistance of police K-9 from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office and New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit yielded negative results.

Hillsborough Township Police Department detectives responded to the scene to investigate which revealed that the actors broke a basement window.

Police say blood was observed on the broken window and a handgun was located near the residence, which is alleged to accidentally have been fired into the residence.

A suspect vehicle was also located by officers and was parked near the residence.

Investigation revealed that the vehicle did not belong to any nearby homeowners within the area according to police.

Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit responded to assist in processing the scene, along with detectives from the Major Crimes Unit.

During the processing of the scene, Detectives from the Hillsborough Township Police Department and the Somerset County Crime Scene Investigation Unit observed Jhamir Hoagland approaching the suspect vehicle that was parked near the residence.

Defendant Hoagland was observed to have an injury to his left wrist and his clothes and shoes were wet and covered in mud. Defendant Hoagland was taken into custody without incident and subsequently charged.

The investigation is on-going in identifying the second suspect that was present with defendant Hoagland.

Authorities charged Hoagland with 2nd Degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, 2nd degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, 2nd degree Burglary, 3rd degree Hindering Apprehension, Disorderly Persons Offense Criminal Mischief, and Petty Disorderly Person’s Offense Defiant Trespass. Defendant Hoagland was subsequently lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

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