EWING -- A 21-year-old Trenton man has been charged in connection with the home invasion robbery of a Manor Drive woman left bound in her basement earlier this week, police said.

Joseph Blanche

Joseph Blanche, of the 100 block of Brunswick Avenue in North Trenton, was apprehended in that block Wednesday evening by a U.S. Marshal's task force, Ewing police Capt. Rocco Maruca said Thursday.

Earlier Wednesday, Ewing Detective Nick Muscente charged Blanche with the crime and issued warrants for his arrest on several charges, including first-degree kidnapping and robbery, and counts of aggravated assault, theft and endangering an injured victim, Maruca said.

The search for a second intruder was ongoing Thursday.

Ewing police revealed Thursday that the 91-year-old victim's car was stolen during the incident and Ewing police recovered it Wednesday.

Maruca declined to elaborate on Blanche's arrest, or if police have identified a second suspect. The investigation was ongoing Thursday, he said.

Police officers responding to the woman's home Tuesday morning for a possible burglary - reported by a neighbor who spotted an open door - found the woman tied up in her basement.

Police say she was attacked sometime between 12 a.m. and 3 a.m. Tuesday when two men burst into her home and ransacked it looking for items to steal.

The woman suffered a fractured skull and had brain bleeding as a result of the beating at the hands of two male, Maurca has said.

Police say they have stepped up marked and unmarked patrols in the neighborhood off Wilburtha Road and West Upper Ferry Road.

After his arrest, Blanche was delivered to Ewing police at about 6 p.m. Wednesday and later sent to the Mercer County Correction Center in Hopewell Township in lieu of $2 million bail.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.