2 arrested in violent S. Jersey armed robberies

By Frank Kummer, Breaking News Desk

Posted: August 09, 2012

Two Pennsauken men were arrested in connection with two recent armed robberies and an attempted robbery in their hometown and Cherry Hill.

Jarell A. Marson, 24, and Ricardo Rivera Jr., are each charged with armed robbery, conspiracy, criminal mischief, attempted robbery and weapons violations. Rivera also faces charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and eluding police.

In the first incident, the men are accused of targeting a 7-Eleven store at Haddonfield Road and Maple Avenue in Cherry Hill at 1:30 a.m. on August 2, according to a joint release issued by Camden County Prosecutor Warren E. Faulk, Cherry Hill Police Chief Richard Del Campo and Pennsauken Police Chief John Coffey.

During the 7-Eleven robbery, a clerk was struck on the head with a silver pipe. The pair tried to force the clerk to open a safe, but he passed out from his injury. So they took money from the register instead, police said.

About an hour later, the duo allegedly struck again at a Wendy's restaurant on Route 70 in Pennsauken, according to investigators. Two shots were fired at employees during the incident, but no one was injured.

Then, on Sunday, police say they received a report of a suspicious 1994 Nissan parked at a 7-Eleven on Cuthbert Boulevard on the Cherry Hill-Pennsauken border.

Someone had attempted to enter the store, but couldn't get past the locked doors.

Police said they arrived to see Marson and Rivera speeding away. But they were stopped after a short chase.

Authorities say they are also examining other similar armed robberies in the area to see if there is a connection.