On Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 11:24 a.m., officer Ortiz-Cruz conducted a motor vehicle stop in the 2500 block of Mount Holly Road in Burlington Township because the vehicle was being unsafely driven on a flat tire. At the time of the stop, the vehicle was operated by Justin Garcia, a 23-year-old male from Bronx, NY, and was also occupied by Shaquille Wilson, a 23-year-old male from Bronx, NY.
While officer Ortiz-Cruz was conducting the stop and investigating the vehicle’s invalid registration, Burlington County Central Communications received a 911 call that a robbery just occurred in the area of Jacksonville Road and Mill Lane in Burlington Township. Other BTPD officers responded to that area and investigated the call. However, they could not find a victim or any signs of a crime, prompting them to suspect that the call may have been bogus.
Officers conducted further investigation and determined that the 911 robbery call came from Garcia’s cell phone. Additionally, it was determined that the call was made in concert by both Garcia and Wilson in an attempt to divert officer Ortiz-Cruz and other officers from investigating their motor vehicle stop.
Garcia was arrested on outstanding warrants and charged with filing a fictitious police report, false public alarm/misuse of 911 system and hindering apprehension. Wilson was arrested and charged with filing a fictitious police report and false public alarm/misuse of 911 system. Both suspects were lodged in the Burlington County Jail.
