Update: Township Men Face Weapons, Burglary Charges In Alleged Hillsborough Attempted Break-In

Jhamir Hoagland. Photo: Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

Update: Authorities are looking for an 18-year-old township man in connection with the attempted burglary of a Hillsborough home in August.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Omar S. Griggs, whose last known address was on Hempstead Drive, according to a press release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

Griggs and Jhamir Hoagland have been indicted on a number of charges related to that attempted Aug. 16 burglary, according to the release.

Hoagland was arrested the morning of the alleged burglary, after he returned to the car he and Griggs allegedly used to get to the Hillsborough home.

A Grand Jury seated in Somerville charged both men with 2nd Degree burglary, 2nd Degree unlawful possession of a firearm, 2nd Degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, 4th Degree resisting arrest by flight, and two counts of receiving stolen property, according to the release.

Griggs, Jr., was separately charged with 3rd Degree attempted burglary and 4th Degree theft, according to the release.

A search of the car after Hogland’s arrest revealed personal identification information belonging to Griggs, .380 caliber bullets, and property that had recently been stolen during another burglary, according to the release.

Omar S. Griggs. Photo: Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

A surveillance camera also caught Griggs trying to enter the home again after 6 a.m., and stealing a bicycle from the property and peddling away, according to the release.

Hoagland is lodged in the Somerset County Jail, Somerville, awaiting trial. Police are looking for Griggs.

Original Story: Quick response to a 9-1-1 call from a Hillsborough homeowner early in the morning of Aug. 16 averted a home invasion and resulted in the arrest of an 18-year-old township man on weapons and burglary charges.

Jhamir Hoagland of Taylor Drive was arrested by authorities after he allegedly returned to the car he and the accomplice used to get to the Mersher Court home, according to a press release from the Somerset County prosecutor’s Office.

The Somerset County Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call at about 1:20 a.m. Aug. 16, with the caller reporting that they could hear someone in their house. The caller said the their doorbell had rung and their motion detection light was activated prior to them hearing the noise, according to the press release.

Hillsborough police arrived at the scene to see two men in a fenced-in area near the rear of the house, according to the release. The two men ran away when they saw police, the release said.

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit and New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit searched the area to no avail, according to the release.

Hillsborough PD detectives investigating found that a basement window had been broken, and discovered blood on the broken glass, as well as a handgun near the home. Police said the the gun was accidentally fired into the home.

A suspicious car was also seen to be parked near the home, according to the release. A check with neighbors revealed that it did not belong to any of them.

Hoagland was seen returning to the car by detectives from the Hillsborough police and the Somerset County Crime Scene Investigation Unit as they were processing the scene, according to the release. Hoagland was seen to have an injury to his left wrist, and his clothes and shoes were covered in mud.

Hoagland was arrested without incident and charged with 2nd Degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, 2nd Degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, 2nd Degree Burglary, 3rd Degree Hindering Apprehension, Disorderly Persons Offense Criminal Mischief, and Petty Disorderly Person’s Offense Defiant Trespass, according to the release.

Hoagland remains in custody at the Somerset County Jail, Somerville, according to court documents.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100, or the Hillsborough Township Police Department at (908) 369-4323 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or at www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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