TOMS RIVER, NJ–Local police are looking to apprehend a 24-year-old man with ties to New Brunswick for his alleged role in an assault and robbery in Toms River.

This comes after cops arrested three others, including a Toms River North High School football player, in connection with the violent crime.

It all started around 4pm on June 1, when a 23-year-old man was reportedly assaulted and robbed in the Winteringham Village neighborhood, according to police.

“He was grabbed from behind and held while he was repeatedly punched in the face,” reads a post on the Toms River PD Facebook page.  “He lost consciousness for a short period of time and when he awoke, the suspects were going through his pants pockets and backpack. They then fled with his wallet and cell phone.”

Cops located three of the suspects, including two juveniles, “a short time later” in the Hampton Garden Apartments.

The two juvenile suspects were 17 years old, so the police did not release their names and Detective Thomas Grosse released them to their parents.  They both face second-degree robbery charges, and one of them also faces a charge of possession of marijuana.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Asante Moorer was charged with receiving stolen property for taking possession of the money that was taken from the victim.  Moorer was the running back for Toms River North High School, according to a report on NJ.com.

According to police, Moorer “was present at the robbery but did not commit the assault and theft.”  The police said he was released after posting bail, but did not say how much it was.

The fourth man allegedly involved, Jorge Ratliff, remains at large, according to police.  Ratliff, who “has ties to Toms River as well as New Brunswick,” faces a second-degree robbery charge and his bail has been set at $50,000.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ratliff is asked to notify the Toms River Police Department at 732-349-0150.

Editor at New Brunswick Today | 732-993-9697 | editor@newbrunswicktoday.com | Website

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.