Day: March 30, 2022

Bordentown City, Burlington, Mercer County, Trenton

Trenton Man Convicted of Robbing Investor’s Bank in Bordentown City

March 30, 2022

BORDENTOWN CITY, NJ (BURLINGTON)–Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that a Superior Court jury deliberated less than two hours before convicting a 58-year-old Trenton man of robbing a Bordentown City bank of nearly $7,000 in January 2020.

George T. Rodgers, of Jarvis Place, was found guilty yesterday of one count of Robbery (Second Degree). The Hon. Gerard H. Breland, J.S.C., scheduled sentencing for May 27.

Rodgers has been lodged in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly since being taken into custody just hours after holding up the bank.

The investigation began around noon on January 14, 2020, after officers were dispatched to the Investor’s Bank in the 200 block of Route 130 for a report of a robbery. The investigation revealed that the suspect approached the bank on a bicycle, then entered wearing a ski mask and passed the teller a note that read, “Give me the money, no dye bags.”

The suspect received $6,779 in cash, which he placed inside a purple Crown Royal whiskey bag before fleeing on his bicycle. The investigation further revealed that the suspect then pedaled to a Hyundai Santa Fe parked at a nearby restaurant, placed the bicycle in the rear of the SUV, entered the vehicle and drove off on Route 130 North.

Investigators were able to locate the vehicle later that day and, upon making a traffic stop, discovered Rodgers behind the wheel. The bicycle, the Crown Royal bag, a ski mask and $4,700 in cash were discovered inside of his residence.

The case was investigated by the Bordentown City Police Department and the Bordentown Township Police Department. Rodgers is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Julian Harris.

2022-41 Bordentown City Bank Robbery Conviction

George T. Rodgers, 58, Trenton
Mercer County, Trenton

City of Trenton and Amazon Host Women’s History Month Program Honoring Womanspace and Dress for Success of Central New Jersey

March 30, 2022

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Today in Trenton, local leaders from Amazon and the City of Trenton hosted a Women’s History Month program honoring two local advocacy organizations: Womanspace and Dress for Success of Central New Jersey.

“We’re here to celebrate Amazon’s partnership, not only with the city but with Womanspace and Dress for Success,” said Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora. “It was amazing to see two trucks pull up that fulfilled two organization’s wish lists so they can continue in their operations and continue to provide the programming that the women of Trenton and surrounding areas deserve.”

The program, which took place at Trenton City Hall, saw Amazon deliver two vans full of wish list items for Womanspace and Dress for Success of Central New Jersey. Both agencies are non-profits that serve women and families. Womanspace provides comprehensive services to those impacted by domestic and sexual violence. Dress for Success of Central New Jersey offers women a network of support, professional attire, and development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

Donated items from Amazon included electronics like televisions, kitchen and home goods, toiletries, and children’s items. 

“I am so grateful to work with the City of Trenton, Womanspace, and Dress for Success of Central New Jersey,” said Erin Hall, a leader of the Women@Amazon employee resource group in New Jersey. “To focus on Women’s History Month, we are so proud to tout everything Womanspace – which houses women who have gone through domestic violence situations and Dress for Success which helps women find jobs – do to help our community.”

Mayor Gusciora, who emceed today’s event, was joined by the city’s Health and Human Services Director Dr. Adela Ames Lopez, who called the partnerships Amazon has forged with Trenton, Womanspace, and Dress for Success of Central New Jersey “true win for the city of Trenton.”

For their parts, Womanspace and Dress for Success of Central New Jersey expressed their gratitude for Amazon’s donations and detailed the work they do to help women and families.

“Womanspace helps survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault,” said Nathalie Nelson, CEO and President of Womanspace. “We run three hotlines. We have different programs such as our emergency shelter. We have our transitional housing, as well as our counseling and support. We are so grateful for Amazon. They have helped us in so many ways. They help all of our clients.”

“Women come to our organization to empower themselves, to get the skills and clothes they need to become successful in the working world because economic empowerment is what we’re all about,” said Aileen Kornblatt of Dress for Success of Central New Jersey.

In addition to these donations, Amazon also detailed a volunteering agreement it has with both Womanspace and Dressed for Success. This will include resume assistance, interview training, outreach regarding job openings , and general efforts meant to help both organizations.

Photos from event provided by Amazon
Mercer County, Trenton

Fight Over Facebook Post Leads to 9-Year-Olds Murder at Kingsbury; Trenton Shooter Escaping City to Hide Captured Entering Delaware River After Foot Pursuit in Hamilton Township

March 30, 2022

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri announced that Isiah M. Roberts, 19 of the 1400 Block of South Clinton Ave., Trenton was arrested in connection with the murder of Sequoya Bacon-Jones age 9 of Kingsbury Square. Roberts has been charged with Murder, 2nd Degree Aggravated Assault, 4th Degree Aggravated Assault for pointing a weapon, 3 counts of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree. At 7:27 p.m., On March 25, 2022 Trenton Police Officers were detailed to Kingsbury Square on reports of shots fired. Two Trenton Police Officers found Sequoya on the ground suffering from a gunshot wound with several citizens rendering aid and Sequoya’s mother was there too rendering aid. The two officers rushed to render aid and brought Sequoya to their police car for possible transport to Captial Health Trauma Center. Trenton EMS arrived on scene and transferred Sequoya to their ambulance one of the police officers along with EMS transported Sequoya to Capital Health Regional Medical Center Trauma Unit. Sequoya was taken into surgery where the surgeon was able to stabilize Sequoya. She sustained a single gunshot wound to the upper body and the gunshot wound was completely though. Sequoya was transferred to RWJ University Hospital in New Brunswick but passed away at 11:59 p.m.

The Mercer County Homicide Taskforce began their investigation and learned that Sequoya and her brother were playing with other children in the court yard area of the low rise are of Kingsbury. It was determined that two females were in a dispute over a Facebook post and went to the court yard to fight. As the fight was taking place an altercation ensued between Isiah M. Roberts, and another male in the immediate area of the fight. Roberts and the male separated but that altercation made its way into the courtyard where numerous shots were fired. Roberts then fled the area in an Accura which was described by numerous residents of Kingsbury who called 9-1-1.

Detectives conducted numerous interviews, reviewed countless hours of video, and spent hours canvasing the neighborhood for information. The detectives pieced the case together and at 11:45 a.m., yesterday morning March 29, 2022 located the Accura and stopped the vehicle on Deutz Avenue in Hamilton Township. As the vehicle pulled over and before it stopped Isiah M. Roberts jumped out and fled on foot. Detectives from the Homicide Task Force engaged in a long foot pursuit along Route 129 in Hamiton Township. It was later learned that Roberts was fleeing Trenton to East Brunswick, NJ to hide from the authorities. A dragnet was cast over Hamilton to find Roberts by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, Trenton Police Department, Mercer County Sherriff Office, The NJ State Police, Hamilton Township Police, and the New Jersey Transit Police. At 12:45 p.m. yesterday March 29, 2022, Roberts was arrested as he entered the Delaware River on Lamberton Road.

Mercer County Prosecutor, Angelo J. Onofri thanked numbers residents for calling 9-1-1, caring for Sequoya and providing assistance with information that led to the capture of Isiah M. Roberts.

Isiah M. Roberts, 19, has been arrested and charged in connection to the death of a 9-year-old girl fatally shot in Trenton.
A Facebook profile photograph believed to be Isiah Roberts can be located here It shows a younger Isiah Roberts with a gun on the waist band and holding a large amount of money in a kitchen. It has not been confirmed that this is Isiah Roberts but appears to be him with similar features.

Names of the 2022 homicide victims in the City of Trenton:

  1. 2/15/2022 Antwone Barnes, 37, of Trenton, Stabbing
  2. 2/23/2022 Leonardo Fernandez, 32, of Trenton, Stabbing
  3. 3/01/2022 Shimon Nesmith Jr., 19, of Trenton, Shooting
  4. 3/15/2022 Albert L. Barnes, 46, of Trenton, Shooting
  5. 3/25/2022 Sequoya Bacon-Jones, 9, of Trenton, Shooting
  6. 3/31/2022 Tahaad Goss, 16, of Trenton, Shooting *Under Investigation
Angelo J. Onofri Mercer County prosecutor file photo by Brian McCarthy
Angelo J. Onofri Mercer County prosecutor file photos
Mayor W. Reed Gusciora, file photo
Kingsbury Twin Towers in Trenton, NJ file photo
File photos of other crime scenes at Kingsbury Towers crime scenes by Brian McCarthy
Nine-year-old girl shot and killed in Trenton; Mayor Calls on Eyewitnesses to Step Forward in Juvenile Homicide

Fox 29 Philadelphia link to entire press conference:

https://www.fox29.com/video/1051820