Camden man indicted for shooting at troopers during armed robbery

A Camden man who authorities say shot at New Jersey state troopers while committing an armed robbery has been charged with attempted murder, the Attorney General's Office announced Monday.

Joshua A. Polanco, 21, was indicted by a state grand jury Friday in the alleged exchange of gunfire with troopers on the 2000 block of the Admiral Wilson Boulevard.

Five troopers from the Metro South Unit saw Polanco point a 9mm semiautomatic handgun at the head of his robbery target in the parking lot of a Chinese restaurant about 5:20 p.m. July 20, according to officials.

They pulled into the lot and shouted for Polanco to drop his weapon, authorities said. He allegedly turned and shot twice at the troopers. They returned fire and Polanco fled, discharging his gun a third time.

No one was hit in the exchange. Polanco was arrested a short time later by Camden police.

In addition to attempted murder, Polanco was charged with robbery, three counts of aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and resisting arrest.

Polanco remains in jail on $400,000 bail. An arraignment has not been scheduled. If convicted of attempted murder, he could face a prison term of 30 years to life.