Police have arrested a Trenton man who allegedly robbed the QuickChek at 1100 S. Olden Ave. on Aug. 19 and they are still searching for an accomplice, according to the Hamilton Township Police Department.
Marcus Giddings, 42, of Trenton, is facing multiple charges, including robbery, resisting arrest by flight and obstructing the administration of law in connection with the incident, which was reported as a burglary in progress at the convenience store at 4:30 a.m. Aug. 19.
Giddings also has been charged with trespassing, criminal mischief, possession of crack cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Giddings and another man entered the QuickChek convenience store and immediately went behind the counter. They allegedly put numerous cigarette packs in a black trash bag and also ripped the cash register from the counter.
The store clerk attempted to stop them, but they pushed him back. They fled down Cedar Lane on bicycles.
The responding police officers saw a man who fit the description provided by Hamilton Township Police Department dispatchers. The man, who was later identified as Giddings, was riding a bicycle near the intersection of Newkirk Avenue and Watson Avenue.
A police officer ordered him to stop, but he jumped off his bicycle and led the officer on a brief foot pursuit. Giddings broke a hole in the fence of a Newkirk Avenue home, but the officer caught him in a back yard on Newkirk Avenue.
Giddings tossed the black trash bag during the foot pursuit. The trash bag was recovered and was found to contain cigarettes valued at $1,047 that were believed to have been stolen from QuickChek.
A search of Giddings following his arrest revealed suspected crack cocaine and a suspected crack pipe in his possession.
The second man involved in the robbery escaped. He was described as light skinned and was wearing a tan face mask. He had a black towel over his head and he was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, black pants and black shoes.
He is believed to have the cash register in his possession. The cash register, which had $472 in it, was valued at $300.
The two men damaged numerous packs of cigarettes, cigarette displays and shelves and drawers, resulting in $3,820 worth of damage, police said.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Robert C. Colletti at 609-581-4107, Detective Robert Whartenby at 609-581-4032 or the Hamilton Police crime tip hotline at 609-581-4008.
