Three Men Charged in Robbery of Elderly Vineland Couple

By: Erin Haskell

Vineland- Three men were arrested and charged with the beating and robbery of an elderly Vineland couple last Tuesday.

Heraldo Cordova Ramirez, 44 and Luis Torres, 59, both of Vineland, and Victor Torres, 46, of Bridgeton were charged with two counts of first-degree armed robbery, two counts of second-degree aggravated assault with serious bodily injury, one count of second-degree conspiracy and two related weapons offenses.

Said Captain Rudy Beu of the Criminal Division, “The men are being held on $500,000 bail. No 10 percent and no property bond.”

According to the incident report, the robbery took place on Yelkca Avenue in Vineland at 11:36 p.m. on June 18. The 911 call came in from a neighbor who reported to the police that there were two tall black males wearing masks, wearing black, and their faces were covered.

Victims William and Ledy Ocasio were returning home from work the night of June 18 when two men jumped out and attacked them in their driveway.

Police have been searching for suspects to the robbery for three months and offered a reward to anyone willing to step forward with the suspect’s identities. Authorities have declined to comment on whether the reward was given after the arrests were made.

“Seven thousand five hundred dollars was donated for the reward,” said Beu. “But I can’t tell you if that money was utilized or if someone came forward because of it.”

Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae announced the arrests to the public at a news conference held out front of police headquarters.

Said Webb-McRae in an email interview, the arrests were made by “a cooperative investigation between the Vineland Police and Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office.”

The suspects had an arraignment on September 23. The next court date for the suspects will be a bail motion whose date has not yet been set.

With the suspects still in jail, the Vineland community is relieved to have suspects in custody on the case.

“ I think the public is relieved because the assault on the elderly couple shocked the community,” said Webb-McRae.

“The Hispanic community was upset about the robbery and it put a lot of pressure on the (police) department,” said Beu. “It’s (arrests) a relief on the community because everyone is more at ease. It’s a good thing for everyone involved.”