Elizabeth City, Essex County, N.J. – On Wednesday, November 6th, troopers working with the Hillside Township Police Department arrested an Essex County man suspected in multiple armed robberies throughout New Jersey.

On Wednesday, October 2nd, detectives from the Troop “D” Criminal Investigation Office responded to report of an armed robbery at the Shell Gas Station located on the Garden State Parkway in Woodbridge. The gas station attendant told investigators that a man in a black sedan drove up to the station and requested $20 in gasoline. When the attendant turned around to pump the gas, a male emerged from the back seat of the car with a handgun. The man pointed the gun at the attendant and demanded money. The attendant gave the man an undisclosed amount of money. The driver and the backseat suspect quickly fled the scene.

On Saturday, November 2nd, detectives responded to the report of an armed robbery at the Sunoco Gas Station located on the Garden State Parkway in Union. The gas station attendant told investigators that a man in a black sedan pulled up to him at the gas pump. When the attendant approached the vehicle, a male exited the car and brandished a long gun and demanded money from the attendant. The suspect fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. 

The gunman and vehicle description given by the victims is similar in both incidents. A black male, approximately 6’1” to 6’3” with a black goatee. The vehicle used in both incidents was described as a black sedan possibly a Volkswagen.  Information regarding these two robberies and the suspect’s descriptions were disseminated to all surrounding police departments.

After an intense investigation, State Police detectives were able to identify the suspect in both robberies as David Buckman III, 45, of Elizabeth, N.J. Soon after Buckman was identified, State Police detectives were contacted by the Hillside Police Department. Hillside authorities provided detectives information from an armed robbery of convenience store in their jurisdiction. Due to the combined investigative efforts of both agencies, detectives determined that Buckman was also the main suspect of the Hillside convenience store robbery.

On Wednesday, November 6th, State Police and Hillside detectives tracked Buckman down to an Elizabeth, N.J. residence where he was placed under arrest.  During the investigation, it was determined that Buckman was responsible for seven additional armed robberies throughout New Jersey, one as far south as  Tabernacle Twp, in Burlington County.

Buckman was charged by State Police detectives for both Garden State Parkway armed robberies.  Bail was set at $100,000 and $200,000 respectively which is in addition to the $150,000 bail that was set by Hillside Township Court.

Additional charges and bail are pending from other jurisdictions.

The charges are merely accusations and the suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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David Buckman III

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