A reputed street gang member and his accomplice were arraigned today on robbery and burglary charges following their arrests on Sunday by Essex County sheriff’s officers.
Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Patrol Division disrupted a robbery in progress yesterday afternoon at the intersection of Elizabeth Avenue and Miller Street.
“The attention of our officers was drawn to the incident by the victim, a 42-year-old male, who was struggling with two suspects, later identified as Jalil “Goon” Green, 18, purportedly a Bloods gang member, and his accomplice, Kenneth Zoka, also 18. Both suspects are Newark residents.”
Just prior to the arrival of the sheriff’s officers, Green and Zoka allegedly broke into the victim’s parked 2015 Hyundai station wagon and stole an Apple iPhone and a battery pack.
Green was quickly taken into custody but Zoka ran from the scene. After a two-block foot pursuit Zoka was taken to the ground. “Zola continued to resist arrest by flailing his arms and legs at our sheriff’s officers,” Sheriff Fontoura noted. “He was eventually subdued and taken into custody where he was found to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana.”
Green and Zoka were each charged with robbery, burglary and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Zoka was additionally charged with resisting arrest and possession of CDS.
Green was also found to be the subject of two open warrants issued by the Newark municipal court.
At today’s arraignment, Judge Sybil Elias set bail at $50,000 each on the two suspects and ordered them held at the county jail.