By: Richard L. Smith
Wayne Police said on Thursday, January 26th, at approximately 5:32 AM, Wayne Patrol Officers were dispatched to the Shell gas station on Route 23 South for a reported armed robbery.
Officials say, according to the victim, a male suspect had fueled his truck and didn’t pay for the fuel.
The suspect threatened the gas attendant with a knife while attempting to obtain money from him.
Wayne Police officials said the suspect could not get the money from the attendant and fled the scene in a white Ford F-150 pickup truck.
The attendant was uninjured during the robbery.
Officials said The Wayne Police Detective Bureau, led by Detective Tomasz Cydzik, began an investigation.
Through the use of gas station surveillance video, and multiple other investigative avenues, Det. Cydzik was able to identify the suspect of the robbery within a few hours. Mr. Michael Zita, 37, of Oak Ridge, was identified as the suspect.
Wayne Police said Mr. Zita was found to have a criminal history involving robbery.
Det. Cydzik obtained a warrant for Mr. Zita’s arrest as detectives attempted to locate him.
Police say that evening, Mr. Zita’s location became known and a plan was formulated to take Mr. Zita into custody.
Wayne Township Police Department Detective Bureau and Special Operations/Narcotics Unit participated in a surveillance and arrest operation.
At approximately 6:50 PM, detectives stopped Mr. Zita on Route 80 in Wayne while he was driving the same truck that was used in the robbery.
Mr. Zita was arrested without incident along with his passenger, Ms. Maria Zita, 34, Oak Ridge.
Mr. Michael Zita was charged with the following offenses: Armed Robbery (1st degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (3rd Degree), Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (4th degree), two counts of Certain Persons not to Possess Weapons (4th degree), Theft (4th Degree) and Possession of Crack Cocaine (3rd degree).
Police said Ms. Maria Zita was charged with Possession of Crack Cocaine (3rd degree).
Both suspects were charged on complaint warrants and were remanded to the Passaic County Jail pending a detention hearing.