Police have confirmed the identities of the three suspects who Rowan University Police previously arrested after an armed robbery and home-invasion-style incident at the 114 Victoria Street apartments.
According to Lt. Cmdr. Rachel Baum, the Rowan University Police Department (RUPD) has identified the suspects as Alyssa Garris, a 19-year-old from Toms River, Ethan Santiago, a 20-year-old from Bayville, and Nicholas Rotella, a 25-year-old from Beachwood.
Each suspect faces multiple charges in connection with the crime, which took place on the morning of Oct. 18. Garris and Santiago were both charged with first-degree burglary, criminal mischief, defiant trespass, possession of an imitation firearm on school grounds, possession of an imitation firearm for an unlawful purpose, and theft of movable property. Rotella faces similar charges, in addition to a hindering offense.
According to a recent NJ.com article, victims reported that the suspects had “forced open the door and demanded property,” heightening fears that this was more than just a spontaneous burglary.
A timely warning from the university mentioned that one of the suspects was a Rowan student, though the suspect in question, now confirmed to be Garris, actually attended Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) as a Rowan Choice student.
“We have a partnership with the community college where 200 plus of their students live at the university, but attend the community college,” said Joe Cardona, the vice chancellor for university communication.
A fourth unidentified person was also taken into custody by police but not charged with the incident, according to Cardona. The three defendants are being jailed pending court appearances and will be represented by public defenders, according to court records.
Police say three suspects forced entry into the apartment at around 6:20 a.m., threatened those inside with an imitation firearm, and stole several items, including a Nintendo Switch, before fleeing on foot.
Officials later confirmed that the weapon was an airsoft pistol, a gun that shoots plastic bullets but resembles a firearm.
While another intruder flashed the airsoft pistol at a male resident, no injuries were reported among the three victims, who are all Rowan University students.
The night before the incident, according to officials in a testimony of possible cause, one of the victims was assaulted and reported a “known female suspect” after intervening in a fight, according to court records. Later on, the same suspect made threats over the phone, stating she was on her way to the victim’s apartment.
The apartment building where the crime took place is owned by Nexus Properties, a private company under an affiliation with Rowan University. In the wake of the incident, some student residents living in Rowan-affiliated housing expressed their frustration with how safety alerts are communicated, as there has been an increase in crime surrounding the campus.
“I feel like the notice for said criminal activities is always too little too late,” said Ryan Kennedy, a 21-year-old radio, television, and film major. “It’s just not sufficient, especially as someone who wasn’t aware of the burglary until it was brought up in a group chat.”
The overall amount of crime on campus has left many students feeling unsettled and concerned for their safety. Just last month, a shooting left a non-student injured within proximity to Holly Pointe Commons. Additionally, there have been 10 cases of domestic violence in September alone and 19 theft cases as reported by the Rowan University Daily Crime Log.
Another student also shared similar concerns to Kennedy, especially when on his path home from work at night.
“It’s a little uneasy coming back home sometimes, especially with the knowledge that there was a recent robbery,” said Matthew Wayman, a 21-year-old radio, television, and film major.
Wayman believes that the university generally communicates crime surrounding the campus well, but the tone of crime alerts can sometimes be subdued.
Police say there is no known threat to the community at this time. The university reminded students to stay vigilant by walking in groups, keeping personal belongings close, and reporting any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
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