Camden Man Indicted, Is Accused in Armed Robbery, Police Shootout

A Camden man has been indicted in connection with the armed robbery of a Chinese restaurant that ended in a gun battle with officers in 2011.

A grand jury handed up an eight-count indictment on Friday charging Joshua A. Polanco, 21 of Camden was with the following counts;

• One Count Murder in the first degree
• One Count Robbery in the first degree
• Three counts of Aggravated Assault
• Possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose
• Unlawful possession of a weapon
• Resisting Arrest

NJ's Office of the Attorney General says that in July of 2011, officers encountered Polanco forcing a victim to the ground at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Chinese restaurant on Admiral Wilson Boulevard about 5:20 p.m.

When officers attempted to stop the robbery, they say Polanco fired his 9mm handgun at them, who returned fire until Polanco fled the scene.

Nobody was struck by the gunfire. Polanco was arrested nearby shortly thereafter, authorities say.

“New Jersey State Troopers put their lives on the line each day to protect all of us,” said Attorney General Chiesa.  “We must do our part to make them safer by aggressively prosecuting anyone who threatens them with a deadly weapon. We allege that Polanco fired three times at troopers after they interrupted him during the commission of an armed robbery.”

“Anyone who fires on a police officer should face stern justice, regardless of whether the officer is wounded,” said Stephen J. Taylor, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Polanco faces a charge of attempted murder, which would carry a sentence of 30 years to life in state prison upon conviction.”