Man Charged with Carjacking, Bank Robbery, and Related Offenses
Published on April 01, 2022
Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Christoph K. Kimker, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, Mount Olive Police Chief Stephen Beecher, Randolph Police Chief William Harzula, and Roxbury Chief Dean Adone announce that Howard Parks, age 54, of East Orange, New Jersey has been charged with first degree Robbery, two counts of first degree Carjacking, third degree Receiving Stolen Property, and disorderly persons Assault by Auto, in connection with a series of incidents that occurred in Morris County.
On April 1, 2022, officers from the Mount Olive Police Department responded to the Walmart parking lot, located in Flanders, NJ, to assist the South Orange Police Department with an ongoing carjacking investigation. While on scene at approximately 12:04 p.m., they learned of a carjacking that had just taken place from the parking lot. The actor made a threat to kill the victim during the course of stealing the vehicle.
At approximately 12:24 p.m., the Mount Olive Police Department learned of an attempted bank robbery that had just occurred at the Wells Fargo Bank, located in Flanders, NJ, involving the same actor. The actor pretended to possess a firearm and passed a note demanding money. However, the defendant fled the area prior to obtaining any money from the bank.
At approximately 12:33 p.m., after leaving the bank, the actor was involved in a motor vehicle crash near the intersection of Eland Avenue and Route 10 in Randolph, NJ. The driver of the vehicle involved in this crash sustained non-life threatening injuries. Following the crash, the actor attempted to steal another vehicle, but was taken into custody prior to being able to leave the scene.
Members of the Mount Olive Police Department, the Randolph Township Police Department, the Roxbury Township Police Department, the South Orange Police Department, the West Orange Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigations, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and other MCPO detectives all took part in this investigation.
If anyone has any information related to this investigation, they are encouraged to call the Major Crimes Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at 973-285-6200.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite these accusations, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Media inquiries concerning this press release should be directed to Public Information Officer Meghan Knab at [email protected] or by phone at 973-829-8159.