The Manchester Township Police Department has arrested and charged the suspect who robbed and assaulted Manchester Township Middle School students at their bus stops on March 2, 2016.

Thanks to a tip from a concerned resident who viewed information on social media, Manchester Township Police Officers/ Investigators identified the robbery suspect as Sage Kenny, 18, from the Pine Acres Manor section of Manchester Township. The tipster contacted Manchester Police at about 9 p.m. on March 3 and provided information regarding the identity of the suspect. Detectives worked through the night to develop the case to the point where probable cause was established for Kenny’s arrest as well as a search warrant for his residence.

Officers from the Manchester Township Police Patrol and Detective Bureaus executed the search warrant on the morning of March 4. At Kenny’s residence, the stolen phone was recovered, as was the clothing he was seen wearing in surveillance footage at the time of the incident. Kenny was arrested at the residence and charged with robbery, theft, attempted theft, and simple assault. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail where he is being held on $75,000 bail, no 10 percent option.

“Our Detectives worked around the clock on this case as it involved the safety of the community, specifically school-aged children. Thanks to the continued cooperation from the community, our Officers were able to quickly identify and apprehend this suspect,” said Chief Lisa Parker.

As initially reported, on March 2, Kenny stole a cell phone from a student waiting for his bus in the area of Cumberland Boulevard. He then attempted to steal another phone from a student at a bus stop in the area of Middlesex Street, striking the boy several times with a closed fist when he declined to hand over the phone.

The Manchester Township Police is grateful to those who provided tips, and reminds residents that they can report suspicious activity by calling our non-emergency line at 732-657-6111. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the “Tip Line” tab at www.manchesterpolicenj.com. Please follow our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/manchesterpolice to receive our updates in your news feed.