EDISON — The Edison Police Department, working in conjunction with the Highland Park Police Department, apprehended Carlos M. Lopez, 40, of Edison, for alleged armed robbery and weapons offenses, according to police.
Lead Detective John Sachau, along with other detectives of the Highland Park Police Department, developed a lead identifying Lopez as a suspect in the Jan. 27 armed robbery of the Lukoil Gas Station on Route 27 in Highland Park.
On Jan. 31, Edison detectives and police officers arrested Lopez at an address on Edmund Street in Edison, police said. He was taken into custody without incident.
The investigation continued, headed by Edison detectives Jeff Tierney and Frank Varga.
Lopez was charged with three additional counts of armed robbery and weapons offenses in connection with three gas-station robberies in Edison — the Raceway on Route 1, on Dec. 17; Fuel One on Route 1, Dec. 29; and Delta on Route 27, Jan. 27.
Police believe Lopez used an imitation firearm during each of the robberies.
“I commend the hard work and diligence by all the detectives involved from both police departments in making this apprehension,” said Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan.
Lopez was being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center on $150,000 bail.