Essex County Prosecutor's Office

(pictured from left to right) Essex County Prosecutor Paula T. Dow, 2006 Valor Award Recipients Detectives Daniel C. Francis and John Gomes, Essex County Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura and Chief Louie Allen.

Detective Daniel C. Francis and Detective John Gomes
Essex County Prosecutor's Office

On Feb. 14, 2006, Detective Daniel Francis of the Essex County Narcotics Task Force appeared before the Honorable Theodore Bozonelis, Assignment Judge of Morris County, where an arrest warrant for Javaugh Robinson and a search warrant for his vehicle were obtained.

The next evening, Francis was notified by members of the task force that Robinson, who at age 33 had already chalked up 34 felony convictions, would likely travel to New York City to pick up a supply of narcotics. Robinson, it should be noted, had long been the prime target in an extensive narcotics distribution investigation and task force officers knew that Robinson had repeatedly bragged that he “was not going back to jail”.

After receiving the information about the suspect, Daniels and other task force members strategically positioned themselves along Route 280 in order to intercept the suspect’s vehicle. Daniels spotted Robinson’s vehicle and alerted the task force which followed the suspect onto Freeway Drive in East Orange. Here, Daniels and Detective John Gomes stopped Robinson and attempted to put him under arrest.

Robinson was removed from his vehicle but he immediately began to resist arrest violently. In the ensuing struggle, Robinson produced a loaded .45 caliber, semi-automatic handgun and pointed it at Gomes. Francis and Gomes attempted to use non-lethal methods to disarm the suspect and Robinson refused to comply with repeated orders to drop his weapon. When Gomes could no longer maintain his grip on Robinson’s weapon, Francis, fearing for his partner’s life, discharged his weapon as a last resort. Robinson was pronounced dead on the scene. It should also be noted that at the time of this incident Robinson had been on parole and had been released from jail on bail for another pending drug charge.

Francis and Gomes were subsequently treated at University Hospital for trauma, lacerations and bruises they received as a result of the struggle with the suspect. Throughout this life-threatening incident, Detectives Daniels and Gomes demonstrated extraordinary bravery, outstanding professionalism and extreme restraint while struggling with an armed and dangerous suspect.

The 200 Club of Essex County proudly presented Valor Awards to Detective Daniel Francis and Detective John Gomes.

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