Gary Troxel

Gary Troxel, 20, of New Egypt, was charged with robbing a man at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, police said.

(Ocean County Jail)

JACKSON – A robber was thwarted when bystanders and family members of the victim chased down the assailant at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor on Sunday until police could arrive, authorities said.

Police said the victim reported that he had made a purchase inside the park and Gary Troxel, 20, of New Egypt, saw that he had a large amount of cash on him.

When the victim was near the exit, Troxel tried to talk to him, pushed him and stole the cash from his cargo pants pocket, police said. The victim suffered a minor foot injury during a short struggle, police said.

Troxel ran into the parking lot and the victim yelled for help while both family members and bystanders gave chase, police said. The robber got into a car of someone he knew in the parking lot, police said.

The bystanders and family members blocked the vehicle and prevented it from leaving the scene, police said.

Police searched the vehicle and found a small amount of heroin, authorities said. Police said the victim did not know the alleged robber.

Both Troxel and the driver, James Towles Jr., 40, of New Egypt, were arrested, police said. At police headquarters, Troxel tried to discard two hypodermic syringes but they were found, authorities said.

Troxel was charged with robbery, theft, possession of heroin and possession of hypodermic syringes. He was taken to the Ocean County jail in lieu of $35,000 bail, police said.

Towles was charged with possession of heroin and was released on a summons pending a court appearance, police said.