By: Richard L. Smith
Two Paterson men have been arrested in connection with the robbery of a Wayne jewelry store where suspects allegedly used sledgehammers to smash display cases and steal merchandise, according to information released by the Wayne Police Department.
Police said the robbery occurred on June 16 at Massola Jewelers in Wayne.
Following the incident, the suspects fled the area in a Hyundai Tucson and traveled east toward Haledon and Paterson.
Authorities said a Haledon police officer later stopped a Chevrolet Malibu and observed one passenger bleeding while another attempted to conceal his face.
The vehicle fled the traffic stop and was later found crashed and abandoned nearby.
Several occupants ran from the scene, but one suspect, identified as 33-year-old Terrance Drakeford of Paterson, was apprehended.
Investigators reported finding sledgehammers, jewelry, gloves, and broken glass inside the abandoned vehicle.
A stolen Hyundai Tucson believed to have been used in the robbery was later located and recovered nearby.
According to Wayne police, detectives continued the investigation with assistance from the Paterson Police Department and the FBI Violent Crimes/Safe Streets Task Force.
The investigation led to the identification of a second suspect, 28-year-old Wyzier Peterson of Paterson, who was arrested by Paterson police on June 18 near his residence.
Both men were lodged in the Passaic County Jail pending detention hearings.
Drakeford and Peterson face multiple charges, including robbery, burglary, theft, conspiracy, possession of burglary tools, criminal mischief, and weapons-related offenses.