A Robbinsville man has been charged with bias intimidation after police said he threw a rock through the front door and side window of a Route 33 restaurant last Saturday night.
The incident marks the second act of vandalism in recent weeks at TacoRito, located on Route 33 in Robbinsville Town Center.
The restaurant reported the incident in a post on social media.
“Unfortunate news. TacoRito Robbinsville will be closed tomorrow due to someone hitting our window with a rock twice in one night. This is the second time it has happened to us in three weeks. Hopefully they catch the guy who is repeatedly targeting us.”
The Robbinsville Township Police Department said multiple 911 calls came in around 7:58 p.m. on Nov. 1 reporting that a heavyset man dressed in all black and wearing a black face mask with a white skull design had smashed the restaurant’s glass door and side window.
Responding officers spoke with witnesses who provided a description of the suspect.
Officers canvassed the surrounding area and deployed a drone to search, but were initially unable to locate him.
At about 9:32 p.m., a communications officer monitoring township traffic cameras observed a person matching the description walking near Route 33 and North Commerce Square. Patrol units responded and detained the suspect without incident.
Police identified the man as Hassan K. Hill, 26, of Robbinsville. During questioning, police said Hill admitted to throwing the rock and made statements indicating a bias motivation.
The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Bias Crime Unit was notified and authorized a warrant complaint. Hill was transported to the Mercer County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance.
Hill is charged with second-degree bias intimidation and third-degree criminal mischief, police said.
The restaurant closed for one day to assess the damage and has since reopened, according to TacoRito management.
“The Robbinsville Township Police Department is committed to protecting our community, fostering trust, and preventing bias incidents of any kind,” the department said in a statement.
“We encourage anyone who witnesses or experiences a potential bias-related incident to contact our department immediately,” the statement said.
