Alleged Quick Stop Robbers Indicted

The two men who allegedly robbed the in the section of Middletown have been indicted on a string of charges stemming from the January incident.

Christopher Martin, 27, of Bunns Lane, Woodbridge, formerly of Atlantic Highlands, and Trevor Pituk, 24, of Center Avenue, Leonardo, have been indicted on charges of: armed robbery and conspiracy, first-degree crimes; possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, a third-degree crime; unlawful possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence, fourth-degree crimes.

The two stand accused of robbing the Quick Stop store on Leonard Road at 10 p.m. on Jan. 12 and threatening the cashier at knifepoint in the process, according to the indictment and records.

The store is where director/producer and Middletown native Kevin Smith filmed Clerks in the early 1990s,

No one was hurt in the incident and there were no customers in the store at the time, police said.

Martin, dressed in jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt, mask and blue surgical gloves allegedly entered the store, while Pituk was acting as a look-out, and pulled a butcher knife on the clerk, police said. Money was demanded.

Because the of two "purposely putting (the victim/clerk) in fear of immediate bodily injury" with the knife, the armed robbery charge was lodged against them, according to the indictment, signed by Monmouth County Prosecutor Peter Warshaw.

The conspiracy charge alleges that they unlawfully agreed “with each other that they, or either one of them, would commit the crime of armed robbery … “ according to the indictment.

The two fled the scene and allegedly destroyed, altered or concealed the clothing worn on the scene, which was evidence, so the tampering count was lodged.

They were found by Middletown police and arrested on Jan. 31.

An indictment does not indicate a conviction. It means that a grand jury found there was enough evidence to move forward with prosecution.