Elizabeth scrap metal robbery: 4 men charged, 5th suspect being sought

ELIZABETH (Scrap Monster): Four men involved in the scrap metal heist at a scrap yard near Newark Liberty International Airport have been charged with robbery, kidnapping, carjacking, aggravated assault and multiple weapons offenses. The fifth suspect is being sought after by the police.

The four men were identified as 22-year-old Michael Howard and 27-year-old Rafael Clemons, both of Irvington, and 30-year-old Sharod Saunders and 47-year-old Steven Chambers, both of Newark.

According to newspaper reports, the gang of five men entered the business around 3 p.m. Friday and restrained a group of employees. The suspects then loaded items including catalytic converters and anti-pollution devices into a truck and drove off. The thieves fired shots at police during the chase. However, no officers were injured.

A NJ State helicopter too assisted the search. Three were apprehended. The fourth man was arrested from an Elizabeth housing complex along with the pickup truck.

Authorities recovered four weapons including three handguns and an AK-47 and a bag full of money.