Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of 22-year-old ALTAMIR L. THORNTON of Newark, NJ; 20-year-old YASHIR T. PHILLIPS of Newark, NJ; 22-year-old RAHIEM A. MALDONADO of Newark, NJ; and two 17-year-old juveniles, on charges stemming from an armed robbery and assault. The arrests are the result of a lengthy investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Englewood Police Department under the direction of Chief Thomas Greeley.
On Saturday, August 3, 2024, at approximately 12:11 a.m., the Englewood Police Department responded to a robbery of patrons dining outside of a restaurant on Engle Street. Responding officers quickly determined that a group of assailants armed with handguns and concealing their identities with ski masks committed an armed robbery of multiple patrons of the restaurant. Prior to robbing and assaulting the victims, the masked assailants attempted to steal car keys from the valet area located near where the victims were dining together. After unsuccessfully stealing any car keys, the victims were robbed of jewelry and other personal items. During the armed robbery, multiple victims were also assaulted by the suspects. One victim was struck in the head by the firearms brandished by the suspects. The suspects fled prior to the arrival of responding officers, and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified, initiating a joint investigation with the Englewood Police Department.
During a months-long investigation that followed, detectives determined that a 2024 BMW X7 stolen during an occupied residential burglary in Monmouth County, NJ was the same vehicle utilized by the suspects to travel to, and flee from, the crime scene in Englewood. Through further investigation, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and Englewood Police Department were able to identify ALTAMIR L. THORNTON, YASHIR T. PHILLIPS, RAHIEM A. MALDONADO, and two 17-year-old juveniles as the masked assailants who committed the armed robberies and assaults in Englewood, NJ.
On Tuesday morning, November 26, 2024, ALTAMIR L. THORNTON, YASHIR T. PHILLIPS, and one of the 17-year-olds were arrested by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and the Englewood Police Department at three separate residences in Newark, NJ. THORNTON and PHILLIPS were taken into custody and lodged in the Bergen County Jail where they are currently detained pending future court appearances. The juvenile was placed in the custody of the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center pending further action by the Bergen County Superior Court Family Law Division. Following the arrests of THORNTON, PHILLIPS, and the juvenile, detectives also executed court-authorized search warrants at each of their respective residences. Multiple handguns were seized at each location. Later that same day, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad located and arrested RAHIEM A. MALDONADO outside of his residence in Newark, NJ. MALDONADO was taken into custody and also lodged in the Bergen County Jail where he is currently detained, pending a future court appearance.
ALTAMIR L. THORNTON was charged with three counts of first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2); second-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(2); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(2); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); third-degree conspiracy to commit theft, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C:20-3a; and two counts of fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4).
YASHIR T. PHILLIPS was charged with three counts of first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2); first-degree use of a 17-year-old to commit a criminal offense, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-9(a); second-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(2); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(2); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); third-degree conspiracy to commit theft, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C:20-3a; and two counts of fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4).
RAHIEM A. MALDONADO was charged with three counts of first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2); two counts of first-degree use of a 17-year-old to commit a criminal offense, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-9(a); second-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(2); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(2); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); third-degree conspiracy to commit theft, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C:20-3a; and two counts of fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4).
The 17-year-old male was charged with juvenile delinquency, specifically: three counts of first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); third-degree attempted theft, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1/2C:20-3a; third-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(2); third-degree receiving stolen property, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7a; and fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4).
Additionally, on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, the second 17-year-old male suspect was charged with juvenile delinquency, specifically: three counts of first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); third-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(2); third-degree receiving stolen property, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7a; third-degree theft, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3a; third-degree attempted theft, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1/2C:20-3a; and fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4). As of Tuesday, December 17, 2024, the second juvenile has not yet been located and remains wanted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and Englewood Police Department.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The investigation into the activities of this group, led by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad, and in coordination with multiple police departments from across Bergen County and beyond, is continuing.
Prosecutor Musella thanks the Englewood Police Department for their assistance and partnership throughout this case. Moreover, Prosecutor Musella also thanks and recognizes the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Tenafly Police Department, Paramus Police Department, Manasquan Police Department, Fairfield Police Department, Freehold Police Department, and Newark Police Department, along with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Union County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office for all of their individual or collective assistance with this investigation.