Trio charged in hammer attack, robbery, cops say

Two men and a woman were charged in the robbery, police said.

NEWTON -- Two men and a woman were arrested Thursday in connection with a robbery and assault with a hammer that occurred the day before on Union Place, police said.

Officers responded to a Union Place residence at 4:14 p.m. on a report that two men broke into an apartment, assaulted the tenant with a hammer and robbed him of cash, police said in a news release.

The man who was robbed told police one of the robbers was wearing a ski mask in an attempt to his identity. The man who was robbed suffered abrasion and lacerations to his arm while defending himself, but he didn't require medical assistance, police said.

Investigators were subsequently able to identify those involved in the robbery along with witnesses. Three people were arrested at various locations Thursday following witness interviews and evidence collection.

David A. Ransom, 38, of Levittown, Pa., and Michael J. Tremblay, 38, of Budd Lake, were each charged with robbery, burglary and conspiracy to commit robbery. Ransom was also charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

A 35-year-old woman from Newton -- Juliana I. Hoffman -- was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery.

All three are unemployed and were remanded to the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility in lieu of bail, police said.

Ransom's bail was set at $232,500, Tremblay's bail was set at $225,000 and Hoffman's bail was set at $50,000.