Matthew Williams, 33, of Plainfield, was allegedly looking for cash and drugs, police said.
NORTH PLAINFIELD - A Plainfield man has been arrested and charged with first-degree armed robbery during a brazen attempted robbery at a borough residence, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said in a news release Thursday.
Matthew Williams (Somerset County Prosecutor's Office)Matthew Williams, 33, was taken into custody after attempting to enter a Walnut Street residence at gunpoint, police said.
On March 28 at approximately 7:32 p.m., North Plainfield police police responded to the residence on a report of an armed intruder, according to authorities.
According to police, Williams approached one of occupants outside the Walnut Street residence and asked him for drugs. The resident told Williams that he did not have any drugs and then entered his home.
Shortly thereafter, a second resident went outside and was approached by Williams, who asked the resident for money and drugs while brandishing a handgun, police said.
Williams then forced the individual back into the residence, where a brief struggle ensued, police said.
During the altercation, residents were able to disarm Williams, authorities said.
When officers arrived, they retrieved a loaded Lorsin .380 caliber handgun from Williams.
Williams was then taken to an area hospital for medical treatment.
A National Crime Information Center inquiry revealed that the handgun had been stolen out of Virginia. Law enforcement will conduct further test to see if the weapon was used in any unsolved crimes, police said.
Williams has been charged with first-degree armed robbery, second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, second-degree burglary, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, and third-degree receiving stolen property.
He is being held in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.
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