Nazareth Police Seeking Justin Aracelio Caban in Connection with Armed Robbery

Nazareth police are seeking Justin Aracelio Caban, 20, of Saylorsburg, who they believe was the gunman in an armed robbery , a  senior.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Caban, the alleged gunman in the April 13 robbery of a juvenile male. Santa-Mella already has been charged.

In an affidavit for the charges against Santa-Mella, the juvenile victim reported that he was walking in the area of N. Cedar and E. Chestnut streets when a black BMW pulled up to him.

Through the open driver-side window, the youth recognized Santa-Mella, 18, as the driver. According to Detective Fred Lahovski, both Santa-Mella and the victim are Nazareth High students.

According to the affidavit, there was also a female in the front passenger seat and two males in the back.

The victim told police that one of the males in the back got out of the car, walked around to the driver’s side and pointed a black semi-automatic pistol at his head from two feet away.

The man told the victim to empty his pockets, and the juvenile removed $120 cash and handed it to the gunman, according to the affidavit.

The victim then reported the male with the gun got in the front seat, and Santa-Mella drove the car away.

After being shown "a photographic array of similarly featured individuals," which included a photograph of Caban, the victim identified Caban as the man who exited the vehicle, pointed the pistol at him and told him to empty his pockets, the affidavit said.

Caban faces multiple charges, including three counts of robbery, carrying a firearm without a license, theft, receiving stolen property, possession of a weapon, making terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct, harassment and criminal conspiracy to commit robbery.

Caban is described as being 6 feet tall and 190 pounds.  He is considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information concerning Caban or the incident is asked to call Nazareth Borough Police at (610) 759-9575 or (610) 759-2200.

The above information was supplied by the Nazareth Borough Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.