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UPDATE: Wildwood Police Arrest Six in Wawa Armed Robbery

Crime | Wed, 01/21/2009 - 1:27 pm | Updated 3 years 16 weeks ago | Read 10836 | Commented 53 | Emailed 13
Tags: armed robbery, Wawa, Wildwood, Wildwood Police

By Harry B. Scheeler Jr.

North Wildwood Police at Route 147 Check Point. Photos by Harry B. Scheeler, Jr.

WILDWOOD — On Jan. 19 at approximately 11:30 p.m. Wildwood patrolmen and detectives responded to the Pine Avenue Wawa at 3200 New Jersey Ave. on a report of a robbery.

Upon arrival on the scene, the victim, 26, of Wildwood, reported that he had been robbed at gunpoint by two Black males, who were both wearing hooded shirts/jackets.

The victim reported that the perpetrators had stolen money, jewelry and two cellular telephones from him and had made threats to kill him.

The victim stated that the two Black males, a White male, and a White female had fled the scene in a newer model silver colored Chevrolet Impala, which displayed New Jersey license plates.

The Cape May County Search Plan was activated and at approximately 12:15 a.m. on Jan. 20, the Lower Township Police Department stopped the suspect vehicle as it passed through one of their checkpoints.

The vehicle was occupied by two females, who were subsequently found to be involved in the incident. The butt of a handgun was observed by officers at the scene to be protruding from underneath the seat of the vehicle. As the investigation progressed, it led to the seizure of the handgun.

Through further investigation it was learned that the robbery was a premeditated incident that involved several people.

Initially arrested as a result of the investigation were:

• Bruce P. Pearson Jr., 25, a driver for a local furniture store, and resides at 132 Carolina Ave., Villas
• Amy M. Bianchino, 31, who is employed as a bookkeeper at the same furniture store
• Ashley A. Funk, 24, unemployed, who resides at 227 Route 47 North in Court House,
• Daniel J. Maniscalco Sr., 23, unemployed, of 3910 Bayshore Road, North Cape May
• Kairi R. Brooks, 24, of 3910 Bayshore Road, North Cape May.

Subsequent to these arrests, a search warrant was executed by Wildwood police and the Cape May County S.W.A.T. Team Island Division at 103 West Poplar Ave. approximately 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 20. Robert Peterson, 38, unemployed, who resides at that address, was arrested without incident at that location.

All six defendants were charged with armed robbery, a crime of the first degree, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery, a crime of the second degree. In addition to those charges, Peterson was charged with terroristic threats, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and certain person prohibited from possession of a weapon.
Additonal weapons charges are pending against Pearson and Maniscalco.

Judge David DeWeese set bail for Bianchino, Funk, Pearson, and Brooks at $100,000; for Maniscalco at $50,000 and for Peterson at $200,000.00 cash.

None of the individuals were able to post bail, and all six were lodged in the county jail.

Contact Scheeler at: (609) 404-6515 or hscheeler@cmcherald.com

Web Master Rick Racela contributed to this report.

Contact Racela at (609) 886-8600 Ext 52 or at rracela@cmcherald.com

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Comments (53)

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Sun, 02/01/2009 - 4:57am - Posted by: Anonymous

You can call these people what ever you want. Scumbags, losers, whatever. I choose to use a different word. They are crimanals plain and simple. They commited a crime and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. It doesn't get any more simple then that.

Sat, 01/31/2009 - 11:05pm - Posted by: Anonymous

to whom ever left this comment : "as for the person stating we don't know the pople to write such things , i do know 3 off those people and they are scumbags and deserve what carma dished out!! To finnally get what was comming to them for there stupidity and acts of violence towards others and thanks to these people they have caused alot of dramma and trouble towards others! I am so happy they are this stupid and finally got caught knowing they have walked away from alot of charges ,how you gonna get out of this one?"

this is how i get out of this, I know a couple of the people too and i have known them practically all my life, and they have NEVER gotten into any trouble EVER and has been a very hard working an productive member of society, first of all you need to know what the heck you are talking about. . . YOU KNOW NOTHING! and that is how i get out of this one!

Fri, 01/30/2009 - 8:05pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Everyone needs to know they did not rob WAWA they robbed someone in the parking lot of WAWA on Pine avenue not in North Wildwood. . All will get punished that is for sure.

Mon, 01/26/2009 - 12:10pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Part of this is society's fault and part of this is the economy> If there were year round jobs and good paying jobs, maybe there wouldn't be so much crime. The county also has to look at the HUGE drug problem with these kids. I did it 20 years ago as recreation and fun. These kids do it because they are hooked and will sell their Mom for a hit. As long as the youth are addicted to drugs, we will see robberies everyday.

Mon, 01/26/2009 - 12:04pm - Posted by: Anonymous

6:29 a.m. It is obvious you have no idea what you are talking about. WaWa was not robbed. Read the article before commenting on it rather than sifting through the comments to add your worthless two cents, no one cares what you say. Complain about taxes where someone may care. Clown.

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 8:01pm - Posted by: Anonymous

These people need to go to jail for a very very long time. Here is a person working for living (something these criminals know nothing about) just trying to finish a shift until he can go home.. Then, you have these LOSERS trying to take something for nothing! Our society is better off without them!

Sat, 01/24/2009 - 7:29am - Posted by: Anonymous

It is obvious why they robbed the WaWa, they need the money to pay their Wildwood taxes.

This is Troiano's and Davenports plan to empty the town. Jack up our taxes another 40 Cents so we are paying over 2000 dollars per 100,000 in value and push use to a life of crime to pay for his friends, family and mistakes.

Fri, 01/23/2009 - 6:53pm - Posted by: Anonymous

To all the ignorant people making rude remarks about the race of the "scumbags" involved in this incident, go get yourself an education. It's biased idiots like you that make this world a worse place to live in. You don't know the situation or motive of the robbery, or the people involved. Just because they did this, does not make them scumbags. What they did was wrong. They'll have to live with it, and they will be tried for it. Who are you to judge them for it based on their race.

Fri, 01/23/2009 - 6:31pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Great job lower are police fire and ems are great Iam proud have u protecting are town

Fri, 01/23/2009 - 3:37pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Some people truly are in the wrong place at the wrong time, some people have issues that are beyond their control and/or their families...Bad choices lead to this, but sometimes they dont need jail, they need help.....and the story here is all wrong....get your facts straight!!!!

Fri, 01/23/2009 - 11:22am - Posted by: Anonymous

Does the island search plan include raising the bridges in WIldwood and Cape May? That's what they should do.

This was an isolated incident, and is NOT PROOF that the pd DOESN'T NEED CUTS!

IT DOES!!!!!!

Fri, 01/23/2009 - 7:33am - Posted by: Anonymous

8;41 WELL SAY,BUT THE MAYOR OFF WILDWOOD .WISH I HOPE I MEET ONE DAY.I KNOW HIS TRING HIS BEST,BUT THATS' LIFE.

Thu, 01/22/2009 - 9:41pm - Posted by: Anonymous

WILL THE WILDWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT PLEASE TELL THE CITIZENS OF WILDWOOD AND ALL WHO READ THIS ARTICLE THAT THE INCIDENT WAS A DRUG DEAL GONE BAD. THIS GUY OWED MONEY TO THE 6. THESE PEOPLE DON'T EVEN LIVE HERE. IT JUST MAKES IT LOOK WORSE FOR WILDWOOD......................THE MAYOR AND CREW ARE DOING ENOUGH TO MAKE WILDWOOD LOOK BAD! WE JUST GO FROM BAD TO WORSE LATELY HERE.

Thu, 01/22/2009 - 5:47pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Well Done

Thu, 01/22/2009 - 10:22am - Posted by: Anonymous

OMG yes people who point guns at others and steal money for drugs, are scumbags!! Actually scumbag is to good for them, they are worse.

Thu, 01/22/2009 - 10:04am - Posted by: bubbz011687

to the person commenting about who is in the white house....Obama, he is not the first AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT....he is the first BI-RACIAL PRESIDENT...people seem to negelect that he has a FULL white side of the family just because his skin color is not pure white.

Thu, 01/22/2009 - 7:35am - Posted by: Anonymous

They will probably be out of jail in 5 months just the young man that robbed 7-11 with a gun last April in Wildwood.I arrested him in April when it happened and seen him back on the streets in August.When he seen me he grabbed his testicles and shook them up and down and smiled at me.The case doesn't go anywhere unless you get the witness's to testify in court and they couldn't get them to testify in that case.

Thu, 01/22/2009 - 6:45am - Posted by: Anonymous

Do the search plans really work? I heard North Wildwood cops had this car stopped and then let it go. I guess if you are planning an escape route a safe bet would be to take it over the North Wildwood bridge. Good job Wildwood and Lower PDs. I sleep better at night knowing SOME of the cops in this county actually do their job.

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 11:07pm - Posted by: Anonymous

another bum of the streets... yet we will pay 31000 a year for each year their in prison... you should write one a letter like the things you see on t v to adopt a kid in another country accpt you can feed them with a dollar a day. these guys will be livin large with cable t v soon enough

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 11:06pm - Posted by: Anonymous

TO 5;10.WOW I GUESS YOU DID:NT READ GOOD ON ALL THE OTHER COMMENT WHEN IT SAY .THAY GOT THARE BEFORE THE HISPANIC.YOU SHOULD DO MORE READY.TO.

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 11:02pm - Posted by: Anonymous

TO 5;10 . I WROTE ABOUT OUR PRESEDENT A A VERRY PROUD WAY.BUT THE HERALD DESIDE TO CUT MORE THAN HALF OFF WHAT WE PUT.YES U HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO FEEL UNCONFOBLE.UNFOSULY I DID TO WHEN I SAW THAY POST IT THARE WAY.SO THIS GO OUT TO THE HAROLD PLEASE POST THIS ONE .THE WAY U CUT THE ARTICLE SEEMS LIKE A WAY DIFFRENT WAY I WROTE IT.THANK YOU.SIGHT LOYALTY.HOPE TO SEE THIS ONE.AND CLEAR THE MIND OFF 5:10 COMMENT POR PEOPLE. ..TY

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 10:56pm - Posted by: Anonymous

For as short handed as the Wildwood police are, after reading this im glad they did a great job. We DEFINITELY need more police officers in Wildwood. Keep up the good work and keep locking up these types of people.

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 8:44pm - Posted by: Anonymous

It's kinda scary that these are not kids, but adults who should know better. Do the crime, do the time. Not a bad concept, being kept, protected, housed and fed at the taxpayers expense. Looks like socialized welfare, now if only they are all sentenced to the same prison. Just being sarcastic, they should throw the book at them and bring back the chain gangs!!!

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 7:54pm - Posted by: Anonymous

To 1/21/09 - 3:57,

Threatening someone with a firearm and taking possession of their property isn't enough to label someone as a scumbag or a bad person? You are an idiot. These people need to be people need to be put out with the trash. It would be a convenient way to get rid of these dregs of society that give the Villas a bad name.

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 7:51pm - Posted by: Anonymous

as for the person stating we don't know the pople to write such things , i do know 3 off those people and they are scumbags and deserve what carma dished out!! To finnally get what was comming to them for there stupidity and acts of violence towards others and thanks to these people they have caused alot of dramma and trouble towards others! I am so happy they are this stupid and finally got caught knowing they have walked away from alot of charges ,how you gonna get out of this one?

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 6:10pm - Posted by: Anonymous

To the 3:00 spouter. President Obama is in the White House and you should be aware of the fact that he is half white, people seem to forget about his mother. He is not the first president with black heritage either. Read your history book, Jefferson, Lincoln, Harding, and Coolidge just to name a few all had black ancestry. So stop playing the race card by saying look who is in the white house now. This article was not about race, it is about a robbery, and I for one am glad these people are off the streets and in jail!

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 5:40pm - Posted by: Anonymous

HOW DUMB CAN PEOPLE BE TO TRY TO ROB WAWA IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER????THATS JUST DUMB !!!!!!! KARMAS A *****

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 4:57pm - Posted by: Anonymous

You know it's a shame that people make such harsh comments on people that they dont know. Especially not knowing all the facts. People can rape and kill someone and get less. And all the comments on just three people. . . i read that six where involved. And calling these people scumbags and other such names in uncalled for you dont know who they are or what kind of people they are, people make bad choices and do bad things doesnt make them scumbags or bad people. Reserve such words for rapeists or murderers.

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 4:49pm - Posted by: Anonymous

sight loyalty. our PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS OBAMA. LOL

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 4:07pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Look how many of these people reside in Lower Township. If this is not proof that our PD does NOT need the force cut, I don't know what is.

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 4:00pm - Posted by: Anonymous

So many racial comment's .Ask youre self .WHO IS IN THE WHTEEEEEE HOUSE NOW??? ( AFRICAN AMERICAN OUR PRESIDENT OFF THE UNITED STATE)

( BARACK ABAMA )
SIGHT LOYATY.......

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 3:59pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Good work coppers.
That's six more bums off our streets.
Hope the Herald keeps posting Wildwood police reports.

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 3:35pm - Posted by: Anonymous

This is what happens when you do people dirty pay back is a ****

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 3:29pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Great job locking up that trash in the Villas. What are they feeding those losers over there? They make the police blotter almost daily and the reoccuring theme is UNEMPLOYED!!! Get a job and learn some respect! 3 hots and a cot and they'll be without their drugs of choice...I guess thorazine and lithium will have to do from the jail nurse.

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 3:01pm - Posted by: Anonymous

This is society for you now! It just keeps getting better in this county! Honestly THe way the economy is today i am not surprised that people are robbing places! Reality is you hurt yourself more by doing a crime than helping yourself! hose who do crimes need some mental help!!!
All in all gladly no one was hurt! Thank God!!!

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 1:44pm - Posted by: smoothrider

sweeeet,i'm pleased to hear that they were captured. hey not only did they get these bums off the streets but they also opened up some jobs @ *** furniture ***.if i needed a job,i'd be an opportunitist @ apply for one of the openings! LOL

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 11:55am - Posted by: Anonymous

Why is everyone fighting over the race...........this is not a joke, it doesn't matter if one is white, black or hispanic. What matters is that they commited a crime. I hope that whomever did it gets cought and pays for the crime... WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER!

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 9:33am - Posted by: Anonymous

I think it's great that there is a preexisting plan in effect for situations like this. I went through one of the checkpoints and the officers were very professional, explained that there was a county wide search plan in effect and had me on my way very quickly. And last I heard Lower Township Police got the car and at least two of the scumbags, I mean passengers.

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 4:22am - Posted by: Anonymous

Yes the search plans do work. It worked today when it was used and they drove trough on the check points NOT at their home. Know what your talking about before you leave comments. The search plan has also worke don several area bank robberies also and YES it does have physological effect. Keep up the good work to all our officers in all of Cape May County.

Wed, 01/21/2009 - 1:48am - Posted by: smoothrider

i hope the police get these thugs off the street because there are innocent people who could of been caught in the middle of this incident. it doesn't matter what color they were,even though it always seems to be the "african americans" that are in the middle of it all;enough is enough already!
as far as the individual that continues to post in CAPS,please quit while u are ahead.the more u post the more u embarrass yourself!!

Tue, 01/20/2009 - 11:32pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Excuse me? Must have got there as the Hispanics were getting ready to rob it??? Lets grow up! You live in South Jersey, this is not a white community. Its Italian, Hispanic, African American, Irish, Asian......... The list goes on! You want to point fingers? Lets point it at the heavy blonde and the TWO black males. NO ONE ELSE!!!!!! hope those three get what they deserve and not a slap on the wrist.

Tue, 01/20/2009 - 6:50pm - Posted by: Anonymous

TO 8:35 AM IT'S :THAT THE TRUTH SOMETIME HURT .I GUESS IT HURT YOU?YOU ARE THE IGNORANT USING THE WORD STUPID .BUT IT FITS YOU WITH YOUR COMMENTS.AND TO THE 10:45 AM WOW U ARE THE ONE ALWAYS COMMENTING IN THE HISPANO ! PENDEJO NOW THAT SUITS YOU .LOL SIGNED LOYATY...AND ? ARE A PREJUDICE PERSON? WHEN WE DIE WE ALL GO TO THE SAME PLACE .

Tue, 01/20/2009 - 11:46am - Posted by: Anonymous

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm............let's see.............................big white blonde with 2 blacks/hoodies.......................hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? Surely they will stand out in the crowd somewhere.

Maybe a drug deal gone bad? So they wanted the money to go offshore to another drug dealer.

Tue, 01/20/2009 - 11:41am - Posted by: Anonymous

THEY MUST HAVE GOT THERE AS THE HISPANICS WERE PLANNING TO ROB IT.

Tue, 01/20/2009 - 10:29am - Posted by: Anonymous

Looks like North Wildwood 3rd Street Wawa

Tue, 01/20/2009 - 10:27am - Posted by: Anonymous

That's not the Pine Avenue Wawa in the photograph.

Tue, 01/20/2009 - 10:24am - Posted by: Anonymous

A dentist gets PTI for imperiling thousands of people, these people should probably get two weeks probation based on that scale.
What a great justice System we have!!!!

Tue, 01/20/2009 - 9:35am - Posted by: Anonymous

To 12:33am... Are you ignorant, stupid, or just uneducated? Is that how you really spell and talk? It's people like you and the people robbing the Wawa why so many people are leaving the area. You people have turned Wildwood into a cesspool!

Tue, 01/20/2009 - 9:29am - Posted by: Anonymous

Great job by all concerned, but I have a question. Do these search plans really work? I cannot ever recall a suspect rolling into one and being recognized, identified, and arrested on scene, so I have to doubt the practical sense of the effort. I know, from previous employment, that this idea is a very old one, whose time I think has come and gone. But I guess there is a certain psychological effect on those seeing or driving through the different police zones. I understand from news accounts that these people were caught at their home in the Villas. Far away from any search plan, but thanks guys for standing out in the cold, if for nothing else, than to look good for the camera.

Tue, 01/20/2009 - 3:18am - Posted by: Anonymous

Let me see, a white female and black guys robbing people. That is why the dream is just a dream and not reality. Too bad Kelly wasn't still working there, she would have decked them, threw a beer bottle at them, or hit them with some serious trash talk.




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