Jackson man held for knifepoint robbery attempt in Lakewood

A vicious armed robbery attempt before dawn today at a Lakewood gas station lands a raft of charges on a suspect from Jackson.

David Alloca, 29, is charged with armed robbery and two weapons-possession counts for the episode that left the station attendant with a gash on his hand, according to township police.

Police said the 27-year-old attendant was alone in the kiosk of the River Avenue Sunoco a little before 3 AM. He told police that a man with black pants, a white shirt and a knife forced his way in and began fighting. The attendant managed to push him out and was slashed on the right hand.

Officer Eric Vega encountered a man matching the description a few blocks away on River Avenue and noticed blood stains on his shirt, police said. Subsequent investigation led to the charges.

His bail at the Ocean County Jail in Toms River was set at $95,000, with no option for release on payment of 10 percent.