Newark police are asking for the public’s help finding Laroy Irving, a 52-year-old man wanted for questioning in connection with a robbery that happened on the 200 block of Central Avenue back in May. Investigators say a man approached a woman as she was taking trash out from her apartment at approximately 9:25 p.m. on May 12, stole her cellphone, and then fled the area.
According to Shore News Network, the Newark Department of Public Safety said Irving is wanted for questioning in the ongoing investigation. Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda Sr. urged anyone with information about Irving’s whereabouts to contact investigators. Miranda took over the department in November 2024 after a 23-year career with the Newark Police Division that included commanding the Robbery Unit and serving as Chief of Police, per the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
Police describe Irving as standing between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 7 inches tall, with brown eyes and black hair. At the time of the robbery, the report notes the suspect was wearing a gray jacket, a white t-shirt, light blue ripped jeans, a white belt, and a blue-and-white bandana.
How to Report a Tip
The Newark Police Division Crime Stoppers program operates a 24-hour tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477), and the article notes that the department also accepts anonymous tips through its website. Crime Stoppers tips remain confidential and may qualify for a reward, according to the same account.
What Irving Could Face Under New Jersey Law
Robbery in New Jersey is generally classified as a second-degree crime carrying a potential prison sentence of five to 10 years under N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1, though deadly weapons and attempts to cause serious bodily injury can be aggravating factors. Second-degree robbery charges can apply even when only minimal force or the threat of force accompanies a theft. Any robbery conviction would also fall under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, which requires defendants to serve at least 85 percent of their court-imposed sentence before becoming eligible for parole, according to the New Jersey Legislature. The law also imposes three years of mandatory parole supervision following release for second-degree convictions.
A Robbery Drop That Makes This Case Stand Out
The May incident occurred in Newark’s Central Ward, a neighborhood that anchors the city’s commercial and higher-education core, while the city has a daytime population of more than 400,000 people, according to Destination Newark. The article also cites a ResearchGate study about Newark’s wards…