Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II and Maplewood Police Chief Jim DeVaul have announced that authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the sexual assault and home invasion that occurred in Maplewood, on October 16TH.
Officials say after an extensive investigation, detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the Maplewood Police Department have charged Muhammad Sharif, 40, of Irvington, with Aggravated Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault and Burglary. Sharif was taken into custody on Saturday.
Acting Prosecutor Stephens commended the efforts of the members of his office's Special Victims Unit and Major Crimes Unit as well as detectives from the Maplewood Police Department. "Personnel from both agencies worked tirelessly during this joint investigation and their efforts resulted in the swift arrest of the suspect," according to Stephens.
Sharif has been remanded to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark pending an appearance in the Essex County Central Judicial Processing Court (CJP).
The investigation is continuing at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Prosecutor's Tips Line at (877) 847-7432.