Sunoco robbery suspect arrested

EAST BRUNSWICK — A Florida man who allegedly robbed a Route 18 gas station later called the police and turned himself in, officials said.

Robert Smith, 35, of Tallahassee, Fla., went to the Sunoco gas station at 784 Route 18 and requested gas for his vehicle on Nov. 18. The attendant advised Smith that he would have to pay cash because he did not have any license plates on his car. At that point, the attendant allegedly observed Smith reaching for a silver handgun. The attendant ran from the area on foot. When he returned, the suspect had left the gas station parking lot.

Later, Smith would reportedly contact the Rutgers University Police Department in New Brunswick from a payphone on campus and turned himself in to police. Rutgers police responded to the location of the caller and determined the suspect possessed a loaded handgun in his vehicle. The officers arrested Smith without incident.

U

pon determining that the alleged

armed robbery took place in East Brunswick, Rutgers police called the township department.

Based on the information provided to East Brunswick police and a follow-up investigation, police charged Smith with armed robbery, possession of a handgun, and possession of a handgun for unlawful purposes. He was transported to the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center, North Brunswick, with bail set $150,000.