Alleged Knife-Wielding Robber Among Three Arrested by Newark Police

Newark police Wednesday arrested three people wanted in connection with two separate incidents, including an armed robbery, department spokesman Det. Todd McClendon said.

A Harrison man, Edwin Vazquez, 34, and a 17-year-old Newark resident were charged with conspiracy, aggravated assault and weapons offenses stemming from an altercation early on the morning of Aug. 18. Around 2:30 am, a 22-year-old Newark man was shot at after a minor traffic accident near May Street and Lincoln Avenue. The victim was unhurt but his car was struck several times by gunfire, McClendon said.

A third suspect was arrested for the armed robbery of a cell phone Aug. 27. Havilah Philips, 24, allegedly approached a 29-year-old city man around 9 am near Hedden Terrace and West Runyon Street and demanded cash Philips claimed the victim owed her. Philips then attacked the victim with a knife, leaving him with wounds in the arms and legs, before fleeing the scene with his phone, McClendon said. Along with armed robbery, she has also been charged with aggravated assault, weapons offenses and conspiracy. Philips was being held on $200,000 cash bond.

"Fortunately there were no serious injuries or deaths in either of these incidents, however, these are the type of criminals we want to remove from our community before the claim the life of another,” said Police Director Samuel DeMaio. “Anytime you fire a weapon indiscriminately on a city street you are endangering the lives of everyone in the area. This violent and reckless behavior will not be tolerated and I applaud the fugitive section for another preemptive strike against the crime in our city."