Jahshaun Hewitt
Fairfield (NJ) An almost eight-month investigation by Fairfield police detectives has resulted in the filing of a variety of criminal charges against four individuals who allegedly committed two residential burglaries and stole a motor vehicle in Fairfield during the early morning hours of June 28, 2023.
On that date at approximately 2:27 am, the Fairfield police were contacted by the New Jersey State Police in regards to a motor vehicle crash on Interstate 280 involving a Land Rover that was registered in Fairfield. The occupants of the vehicle were reported to have fled prior to state troopers arriving on scene. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle had just been stolen from a Hollywood Avenue residence, however the homeowner was still unaware this occurred.
Immediate investigation at the time determined that the suspect(s) entered a 2023 Land Rover which was parked in the driveway. They then used the vehicle’s garage door opener to gain access to the home. Once inside,they located the Land Rover’s key fob. They then stolethe car as well as other personal belongings which were left near the keys in the kitchen.
Video surveillance was obtained from surrounding homes which helped to corroborate the aforementioned series of events and identify a second vehicle that was involved as a light-colored GMC Yukon found to be registered to an East Orange address. At 4:27 am, on this same date, this vehicle and its occupants were allegedly involved in a home burglary in Roselle Park, N.J. and the theft of a Mercedes Benz in Cranford, N.J.
It is alleged that some of these same individuals returned to Fairfield in the stolen Mercedes Benz on June 28, 2024 at around 7:00 am and they allegedly committed a burglary of a Craig Place residence. The Fairfield police responded and briefly pursued the stolen vehicle, but the pursuit was terminated when it became unsafe to continue. The New Jersey State Police Auto Theft Task Force then assisted in tracking the stolen Mercedes Benzto East Orange and eventually arrested the occupants, which included Solomon and two 17-year-old juveniles.
During the course of the investigation, Fairfield detectives tracked the suspects movements on the night of the incidents to a gas station in East Orange where a credit card stolen from the Fairfield burglary was allegedly used.
The individuals charged are as follows:
• Nasir Solomon (19) of East Orange, N.J. was charged on June 28, 2023 with two counts of employing a juvenile in the commission of a crime and one count of trafficking in stolen motor vehicles. Solomon is currently housed in the Essex County Jail.
• A 17-year-old juvenile, whose identity is being withheld due to their age, was initially charged on June 28, 2023 with burglary and criminal trespass, however, additional investigation resulted with this same juvenile being charged on February 13, 2024 in the Fairfield incident with being the leader of an auto theft operation, conspiracy to commit burglary, possession of a handgun, possession of a handgun by a minor, possession of an extended magazine and trafficking in stolen motor vehicles.
• A 17-year-old juvenile, whose identity is being withheld due to their age, was charged on February 21, 2024 with conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit a motor vehicle theft, theft of credit cards, fraudulent use of credit cards, identity theft, and receiving stolen property.
• Jahshaun Hewitt (24) of East Orange, N.J. was charged on February 21, 2024, with burglary and motor vehicle theft and employing a juvenile in the commission of a crime.
Hewitt is still wanted in connection with this incident and the Fairfield Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating him. Hewitt is a 24-year-old black male, 5-10, 175 pounds with dreadlocks. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the Fairfield Police Department at 973-227-1400. All callsand information will be kept confidential.
“The Fairfield Police Department wants our citizens to know that our pursuit of these predatory, habitual criminals does not end if, by chance, they initially evade police capture. Instead, our hunt to bring them to justice is just beginning. In this case, our detectives conducted hundreds of hours of follow up investigation resulting in these charges being filed” said Public Information Officer Stacy Chiarolanza. “Chief Manna commends the efforts of Detectives Daniel Moran, Nicholas Cocchi, Michael Tilton and Rick Alves for their work on these cases,” said Chiarolanza.
(It should be noted that the charges against all of these individuals are merely allegations and that all are presumed innocent until they either plead guilty or are found guilty in a court of law)