Sparta Police had to close Route 15 during the afternoon commute on Wednesday because an armed robbery suspect tried to escape. In a press release from Lieutenant John Lanham. The department says officer Jonathan Poon observed a vehicle "weaving in and out of traffic" on Route 15. He attempted to stop the vehicle. Which pulled into the parking lot of Anderson Farms. When Poon approached the vehicle he saw three young men who "appeared nervous." After attempting to ask them questions officer Poon requested back up. When he checked the registration of the Chevrolet Impala an alert came up saying the vehicle was wanted in connection with an armed robbery in Newark. Later information also connected the car to another armed robbery in Phillipsburg. When back up arrived officers attempted to remove all three men from the vehicle. One of the men fled across Route 15 toward Layton Lane. Police officers from neighboring towns and the New Jersey State Police quickly surrounded area where the suspect ran. They eventually found 19 year old Travon Johnson hiding in the bed of a pick up truck on Layton Lane. Two 9 mm hand guns were found nearby. One of them had been stolen in Easton, Pennsylvania. Johnson had just been released from jail within the past week. He is facing several new charges including possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of illegal firearms. He is being held in the Morris County Jail. The other two men in the vehicle were 19 and 17 years old. They have not been charged and were released. No injuries to police officers or the suspect were reported.
Source: Sparta Township Police
Photo: Getty Images