The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
A 10-month police investigation into three incidents in Franklin and New Brunswick resulted in the indictment of six men, including a township resident, on charges ranging from homicide to narcotics possession.
The incidents occurred in late June and early July of 2015, according to a press release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.
Two of the men indicted, Divendra Bhim, 21, of Somerset and Dashawn Carreker, 23, of New Brunswick, were arrested about a week after the incidents.
A Grand Jury sitting in Somerville returned the indictments on April 28, according to the release.
According to the release, at about 11:20 p.m. on June 24, 2015, police responded to a Route 27 convenience store where they spoke with a 20-year-old man who told them he’d been assaulted by two men at the Country Side apartments in Somerset. The victim told police that he was there to meet Bhim to buy marijuana from him.
The victim told police that he was approached by Bhim and two other men, Carreker and another man, who robbed and beat him.
On June 30, 2015, at about 8:04 p.m., police responded to Hempstead Drive on a 9-1-1 call where they found Francis Vandy, 35, of Willingboro, lying in the street. Vandy had suffered a gunshot to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Witnesses told police that after hearing a gunshot, they saw a dark, four-door car occupied by two men leaving the scene. The investigation revealed that Vandy had arranged to meet Dashawn Carreker in the area to buy marijuana, a meeting allegedly set up by Derrick Carreker, 25, of Somerville.
The investigation revealed that Emendo Hill, 27, of Piscataway and Dashawn Carreker drove to the township to rob Vandy, and that Carreker is the one who shot him.
On July 1, 2015, detectives executed a search warrant on a North Brunswick home where they allegedly saw Dashawn Carreker throw a handgun as he attempted to hide. Detectives also seized a quantity of cocaine, heroin and drug paraphernalia.
On July 8, 2015, at about 1:22 a.m., New Brunswick police responded to a robbery call on Hartwell Street. The 23-year-old victim told police that as he exited his car, two men approached him, pointed guns at him and demanded money. The victim said one of the men hit him on the back of the head with his gun, and then stole his wallet and personal belongings. The victim later identified Dashawn Carreker as one of his assailants.
According to the release, the charges are as follows:
Dashawn Carreker: indicted for 1st degree murder (two counts); 1st degree robbery (three counts); 2nd degree possession of a firearm or an unlawful purpose (three counts); 2nd degree conspiracy (three counts); 2nd degree unlawful possession of a handgun (three counts) 2nd degree aggravated assault, and 3rd degree conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance. Bail was set by the Honorable Bruce Jones, J.S.C. at $250,000 cash or bond.
Emendo Hill, aka “Sport”: indicted for 1st degree murder (two counts); 1st degree robbery; 2nd degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose; 2nd degree conspiracy; 2nd degree unlawful possession of a handgun, and 3rd degree Hindering apprehension (three counts). Hill was arrested on Friday afternoon, April 29, 2016 on Bayard Street in New Brunswick by detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and the Franklin Township Police Department. He was lodged in the Somerset County Jail with bail being set by the Honorable Bruce Jones, J.S.C. at $150,000 cash or bond.
Divendra Bhim: indicted for 1st degree robbery; 2nd degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose; 2nd degree aggravated assault; 2nd degree conspiracy and 3rd degree conspiracy.
Darral Black, age 48 , of North Brunswick: indicted for 2nd degree possession with intent to distribute heroin, 3rd degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and 3rd degree possession with intent to distribute an imitation controlled dangerous substance.
Derrick Carreker: indicted for 3rd degree conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance.
Darryl Latney, 23, of North Brunswick: indicted for 3rd degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
