Gerone Foster, left, and Jamirr Arthur
Two men were arrested and two loaded weapons recovered just after an armed home invasion early Wednesday morning.
"People right inside the house with guns," came the call to the 200 block of Seaside Avenue just before 1 a.m. "They came in and ransacked the house. All we know is three males with masks."
The call came in as three males. But it was four men who entered a rooming house, assaulted and robbed the occupants in several rooms, and then left with cash and cell phones, Sgt. Kevin Fair said. No one was injured.
Officer John Pyle was responding when he saw two men, including one wearing a black ski mask, walking in the 200 block of Atlantic Avenue, later identified as Jamirr Arthur and Gerone Foster, Fair said. As Pyle tried to stop them, Arthur ran and Foster down an alley.
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"I got a male running going south," came the call over the radio. "I got two males running."
Pyle found Foster, who had removed his jacket. He then put out a description for Arthur, and the direction he fled. Officer Ryan Mullin was searching for Arthur when he saw a man exiting an alley in the area where Arthur fled, but he was wearing different clothes, according to the report.
He ran when Mullin tried to stop him. As more officers arrived, the man surrendered and was positively identified, Fair said. The clothes Arthur had on when he ran were found in the alley, including the ski mask he had been wearing, along with a loaded handgun.
"We have a bookbag with a weapon in it," an officer is heard saying on the radio.
A loaded sawed-off shotgun was found in Foster’s backpack, Fair said. A third man was taken into custody, but later released with no charges.
Arthur, 18 of Atlantic City, and Foster, 21, of Egg Harbor Township, were charged with robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and hindering apprehension.
Both were taken to the Atlantic County Justice Facility. The ongoing investigation is led by Detective Dembe Baako. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 609-347-5766. Information may also be texted to tip411 (847411) beginning the text with ACPD.
