Bronx Man, 20, Charged with Robbery After $200 Dispute Ends on Secaucus Rooftop, Police Say

It started with $200 in an office on Paterson Plank Road. It ended with a 20-year-old hiding on a rooftop above Front Street, surrounded by Secaucus police.

Secaucus police said they got a call at about 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, about a theft in the 1300 block of Paterson Plank Road. The caller, a 44-year-old Union City man, told police a man had taken $200 from him and run out of his office. Officers were given a description and started searching.

They spotted the man near the 100 block of Centre Avenue, police said. When he saw uniformed officers coming, he ran through neighboring backyards and went into an occupied apartment on Front Street. Inside, he offered the person living there $200 not to call the police, according to the department. He then got onto the roof and tried to hide, but officers caught him a short time later.

The story behind the $200 came out at the scene. Police said the investigation found that the Union City man had arranged to pay for sex with the suspect, and the two met near 1321 Paterson Plank Road. A dispute broke out, and the suspect forcefully took the $200 and ran, police said. No weapon was used and the Union City man was not hurt.

Police identified the suspect as Cameron Kennard, 20, of the Bronx. He is charged with robbery, promoting prostitution, obstruction, criminal mischief and witness tampering, and was taken to the Hudson County Jail. The 44-year-old Union City man was charged with engaging in prostitution and released on a summons pending a court appearance.

Police did not release court dates for either man. The charges are accusations, and both men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source: Secaucus Police Department.

Photo: Secaucus Police Department.