Police: Man Lied About Robbery to Cover Drug Buy

A Gloucester County man is in trouble with the law after he allegedly reported he was the victim of an armed robbery as cover for the fact he had actually blown his paycheck on an illegal purchase of prescription drugs.

Officers from the Gloucester Township and Winslow Township police departments responded to the Wawa at 511 Berlin-Cross Keys Road, in Gloucester Township's Sicklerville section, at 2:47 p.m. Thursday on a report of a robbery.

The officers immediately began searching the area for the suspect, as described by the alleged victim, who claimed he was robbed at gunpoint of $200.

A Gloucester Township Police K-9 team and detectives were also dispatched to the scene to aid in the investigation, according to Lt. Jason Gittens.

After a short period of time, but not before numerous police resources had been deployed, investigators determined that 33-year-old Steven Santiago, of Mills Lane, Williamstown, had made up the robbery story to cover the fact he had used his paycheck to illegally buy prescription drugs, Gittens said.

Santiago was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), false public alarms, false reports to law enforcement, loitering to obtain CDS and being under the influence of CDS. He was released after posting 10 percent of $7,500 bail.