Hackensack man charged in connection with armed sexual assault and robbery, police say

A 30-year-old Hackensack man was arrested and charged with sexual assault, robbery, drug and weapons charges, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said in a press release Sunday.

Following an investigation and surveillance by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Victims Unit and the Hackensack Police Department, Willie Banks of Poplar Avenue, was arrested and charged in connection with the sexual assault of a 22-year-old female.

The prosecutor said that on Dec. 4, a 22-year-old female reported to the Hackensack Police Department that on Nov. 27, while waiting for a friend near the area of Poplar Avenue and Grand Street in Hackensack she was approached by an unknown man who she said had a gun.

"The unknown male robbed and sexually assaulted the woman prior to fleeing on foot. A joint investigation commenced. The New Jersey State Police assisted in the investigation by creating a composite of the suspect," the prosecutor said in Sunday's press release.

Authorities spent the following weeks conducting plain clothes surveillance of the area and conducting several interviews in an attempt to identify the suspect. Finally, on Dec. 24, the victim observed the suspect walking in the area of Main Street in Hackensack and contacted local police.

The suspect had already left the area when police arrives, but was ultimately identified as Banks.

"Later in the day, Hackensack Police Officers located Banks and at the time, he was in possession of marijuana and heroin. He was arrested for possession of controlled dangerous substances and was transported to the Hackensack Police Department," the prosecutor said.

Following an interview, police also charged Banks with the Nov. 27 assault.

The prosecutor said the charges against Banks include the following: aggravated sexual assault during the commission of a robbery, a first degree crime; aggravated sexual assault with a weapon, a first degree crime; robbery, a first degree crime; possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, a second degree crime; unlawful possession of a weapon, a second degree crime; possession of a controlled dangerous substance, specifically heroin, a third degree crime; possession of a controlled dangerous substance, specifically marijuana, a disorderly persons offense; and being under the influence, a disorderly persons offense.

Bail was set at $400,000.00 with no 10 percent option. Banks is currently being held in Bergen County Jail.

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.