Police: Wall Teen Robbed Cab Driver

A Wall Township teen was arrested and charged late Tuesday with robbing a cab driver, police said.

Jawaad Mateen 18, whose last known address was on Sunset Ave. in Wall, was arrested and charged before midnight Tuesday when he was found hiding in a bedroom of a friend’s house in the West Belmar section following the robbery of the cab driver who dropped him off,  Sgt. Erik Ertle said.

A dispatcher from Top’s Taxi called police after Mateen, who was picked up in Asbury Park, asked to be let out in the area of 18th Ave. and K Street and forcible stole cash from the driver’s pocket and ran into an 18th Ave. house where he was an occasional visitor. No weapon was used in the robbery, Ertle said.

Wall Police arrived, searched the home and found Mateen hiding in a bedroom. A search warrant was executed sometime later and police found about $100 that Mateen had taken from the cab driver, Ertle said.

Mateen was charged with second degree robbery, third degree hindering his own apprehension, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, Ertle said.

He was taken to Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, in lieu of $55,000 bail, Ertle said.

The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests may be made, Ertle said.