Police raid ‘gang hideout’ in South Brunswick

Three men were arrested, including a man wanted in March burglary.

By: Paul Koepp
   The investigation of a March burglary in Kendall Park led to the arrest of three men late Monday night during a raid on a townhouse on Jeffrey Circle in Dayton that police said is a "known gang hideout."
   Police said that two of the men are known gang members, but they are not sure about the third. None of the residents of the townhouse was charged with any crime.
   According to police, Brian Brown, 18, of New Brunswick, was charged with burglary and hindering his apprehension. The burglary charge was in connection with a March 29 theft of jewelry from a Barbara Street home in Kendall Park, committed while the residents were out of town, police said.
   A warrant had been out for Mr. Brown since April. He was charged with hindering his apprehension because he initially gave police his brother’s name, police said.
   His brother, Raheem Brown, 24, of Plainsboro, who had a replica handgun and a knife, was charged with possession of an imitation firearm and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, police said.
   Police spokesman Detective Jim Ryan said that Raheem and Brian Brown are known gang members. He said police did not want to give the gang credibility by releasing its name.
   "It’s a constant battle to try to keep gangs from getting a foothold in the community," said Detective Ryan. "These are the kind of people we don’t want in South Brunswick."
   In addition, Christopher Johnson, 25, of Plainsboro, was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute. Police said he had 10 packets of marijuana packaged for sale and $300 in cash. Police did not disclose the exact amount of marijuana in Mr. Johnson’s possession.
   The Police Department’s gang intelligence unit had developed information that Brian Brown was hiding in the house, leading to the raid by a dozen Emergency Response Team officers just after midnight on Monday, police said.
   Also in the house were two residents and a 17-year-old girl from Plainfield, police said. None of them was charged with any crime.
   Raheem Brown was released Tuesday to St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick for treatment of lingering injuries from a gunshot wound to his femur. Both Raheem and Brian Brown had been shot in New Brunswick in April, police said.
   Brian Brown was being held Wednesday at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center on $25,000 bail, and Mr. Johnson was being held there on $10,000 bail.