Cop Assaulted After Trio's $10K Bank Theft In Warren: Prosecutor

WARREN, NJ — A man rammed into a police car and struck an officer after he and two others made a fraudulent withdrawal at a Warren bank Jan. 5, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. Deleon Hutchenson, Rebecca Burlew and Lemar Lodge face charges after withdrawing $10,000 cash from Bank of America on Mountain Boulevard, authorities said.

A Bank of America employee contacted police at about 2:45 p.m. Jan. 5 after noticing two suspicious people possibly making a fraudulent withdrawal, the prosecutor's office said. Preliminary investigation revealed the withdrawal was fraudulent, according to authorities.

Burlew, of Keyport, returned to the bank while officers remained on scene, the SCPO said. Warren Township police took her into custody. Police found Hutchenson in a parked vehicle adjacent to the bank, and the Sayreville man became belligerent and combative, authorities said.

Hutchenson rammed into an unmarked police vehicle three times, struck an officer in the face and ran away, the SMCO said. Police caught him on foot on Mountain Boulevard and arrested him.

Authorities found Lodge, of East Orange, in a business parking lot and arrested him without incident.

Hutchenson was charged with aggravated assault of a police officer (second-degree), theft by deception (third-degree), resisting arrest (third-degree), conspiracy to commit theft by deception (third-degree), criminal mischief (fourth-degree) and obstruction of justice (fourth-degree).

Burlew and Lodge were charged with theft by deception and conspiracy to commit theft by deception. Burlew was also charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (third-degree).

Authorities placed Hutchenson and Burlew in the Somerset County Jail to await a detention hearing, while Lodge was released.