WILDWOOD — On Jan. 19 at approximately 11:30 p.m. Wildwood patrolmen and detectives responded to the Pine Avenue Wawa at 3200 New Jersey Ave. on a report of a robbery.
Upon arrival on the scene, the victim, 26, of Wildwood, reported that he had been robbed at gunpoint by two Black males, who were both wearing hooded shirts/jackets.
The victim reported that the perpetrators had stolen money, jewelry and two cellular telephones from him and had made threats to kill him.
The victim stated that the two Black males, a White male, and a White female had fled the scene in a newer model silver colored Chevrolet Impala, which displayed New Jersey license plates.
The Cape May County Search Plan was activated and at approximately 12:15 a.m. on Jan. 20, the Lower Township Police Department stopped the suspect vehicle as it passed through one of their checkpoints.
The vehicle was occupied by two females, who were subsequently found to be involved in the incident. The butt of a handgun was observed by officers at the scene to be protruding from underneath the seat of the vehicle. As the investigation progressed, it led to the seizure of the handgun.
Through further investigation it was learned that the robbery was a premeditated incident that involved several people.
Initially arrested as a result of the investigation were:
• Bruce P. Pearson Jr., 25, a driver for a local furniture store, and resides at 132 Carolina Ave., Villas
• Amy M. Bianchino, 31, who is employed as a bookkeeper at the same furniture store
• Ashley A. Funk, 24, unemployed, who resides at 227 Route 47 North in Court House,
• Daniel J. Maniscalco Sr., 23, unemployed, of 3910 Bayshore Road, North Cape May
• Kairi R. Brooks, 24, of 3910 Bayshore Road, North Cape May.
Subsequent to these arrests, a search warrant was executed by Wildwood police and the Cape May County S.W.A.T. Team Island Division at 103 West Poplar Ave. approximately 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 20. Robert Peterson, 38, unemployed, who resides at that address, was arrested without incident at that location.
All six defendants were charged with armed robbery, a crime of the first degree, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery, a crime of the second degree. In addition to those charges, Peterson was charged with terroristic threats, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and certain person prohibited from possession of a weapon.
Additonal weapons charges are pending against Pearson and Maniscalco.
Judge David DeWeese set bail for Bianchino, Funk, Pearson, and Brooks at $100,000; for Maniscalco at $50,000 and for Peterson at $200,000.00 cash.
None of the individuals were able to post bail, and all six were lodged in the county jail.
Contact Scheeler at: (609) 404-6515 or hscheeler@cmcherald.com
Web Master Rick Racela contributed to this report.
Contact Racela at (609) 886-8600 Ext 52 or at rracela@cmcherald.com
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