South Orange police arrested two East Orange residents late Thursday night in an attempted robbery and pistol whipping of a South Orange resident on Third Street.
The man was walking east on Third Street between Valley and Academy Streets on July 11, when he was approached by two women and struck on the head with what appeared to be a firearm, said Chief James Chelel.
The man received “trauma to the top of his head” and was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was treated and released, said Chelel.
Using camera surveillance footage, police were able to identify the car the two women drove away in, said Chelel, who said it was “a unique [looking] vehicle.” Detectives found the owner of the car, who gave them the names of the two people he had lent the car on the night of the incident. Detectives were able to determine the two were responsible for the crime.
Detectives arrested 23-year-old Jihta Hale and 20-year-old Shamiyah Bryan, both of East Orange, on July 16. Both were charged with aggravated assault and attempted robbery, and taken to Essex County Jail in Newark. Bail has been set at $250,000.00.
Chelel said there were not “an extra high number of robberies” in the area where the incident occurred, although police in general “have to concentrate more on the east part of town” in their patrols.
