FLEMINGTON – A former borough man who was indicted in 2015 for punching and choking a female cab driver has been named Hunterdon County’s fugitive of the week, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office announced.
Melvin Cruz-Lara
Melvin Cruz-Lara, now 24, was sought for an attack that happened in November of 2014 in Raritan Township.
According to police, Cruz-Lara punched the then 57-year-old cab driver in the face and choked her while she was driving. She was able to get away from Cruz-Lara, and call the police.
Cruz-Lara ran off prior to police arrival, but he has been charged with aggravated assault, it was previously reported.
He was indicted by a Hunterdon County grand jury in January of 2015 on charges of second-degree aggravated assault. An arrest warrant was issued on Feb. 13, 2015 when he failed to appear in court.
He is described as approximately 5-feet, 10-inches tall and weighing 160 pounds. He is known to frequent the Seaside area, the prosecutor’s office said.
Those with with information as to this fugitive’s whereabouts are asked to contact Det. Sgt. Ed DeFilippis, Det. Frank Modaffare or Det. Lamont Garnes of the Joint Hunterdon County Fugitive Task Force at 908-788-1129 or your local police department.
Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-321-0010 or by going to www.crimestoppershunterdon.com, or text messaging “HCTIPS” plus your tip message to 274637 (CRIMES).
Tipsters can also download the free mobile app “Tipsubmit” and select Hunterdon County to submit anonymous tips via text messaging. All tips are anonymous and kept confidential.
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