Jan. 5, 2000 

TASK FORCE NABS FUGITIVE

 

      TRENTON – Members of the Fugitive Unit of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office arrested without incident this week a city man wanted since 1998 in an armed street robbery, Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto announced today.

      Charles Tarver, (DOB 2/9/72), of the 1200 block of Princeton Avenue, was arrested about 4:30 p.m. Monday in Millstone Township by prosecutor’s Detectives Cory S. Kammler II and Joseph Angarone, assisted by Deputy U.S. Marshal Tim Hein, Giaquinto said. The officers are also members of the Central Jersey Fugitive Task Force.

      Tarver faces first-degree armed robbery charges along with charges of theft by unlawful taking, aggravated assault, possession of a sawed-off shotgun and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, Giaquinto said. If convicted of the armed robbery offense, Tarver could be sentenced to a maximum 20 years in prison, required to spend 85 percent of that term without parole.

      “The officers did an outstanding job in locating and arresting this fugitive,” Giaquinto said.

      Tarver is accused of being one of two men who robbed a 24-year-old city man at gunpoint on Aug. 17, 1998. The incident occurred about 1:30 a.m. in the 200 block of Coolidge Avenue in Trenton when two gun-wielding assailants who drove up in a car and jumped out brandishing the weapons confronted the victim, who was walking down the street. One of the men, alleged to be Tarver, was armed with a sawed-off shotgun, while the second man, alleged to be co-defendant Troy Bradley, was armed with a .25-caliber handgun.

      The robbers stole jewelry, a pager and cash from the victim then drove away. A witness reported seeing the man armed with the handgun fire two shots out the window as the vehicle left the area.                                                                           

      Bradley, (DOB 3/3/74), of the 300 block of West State Street, was arrested Aug. 30, 1998, and charged in the armed robbery. An arrest warrant was issued for Tarver but he was not found until this week. Even though Tarver had never been arrested, both men were indicted in the case by a grand jury on June 15, 1999. Bradley was indicted on the same charges as Tarver, but was accused of having the handgun in his possession.