EDISON — Township police arrested a Maplewood man who allegedly forced his way into a Talmadge Road home and assaulted a resident with a large barbecue fork.
Police charged Eric M. Phillips, 27, on Oct. 5 with burglary, assault, possession of a weapon and possession of heroin in connection with the Sept. 28 home invasion, according to authorities.
A Talmadge Road resident told police that an assailant armed with a large barbecue fork forced his way into the man’s home shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 28. The assailant held the fork to the man’s throat as he demanded cash and valuables, police said.
The assailant punched the man in the stomach after the victim surrendered his wallet and a laptop computer. The assailant then fled the house before officers arrived on the scene, police said.
“Closing this case within a week is a credit to our detectives’ solid police work,” police Chief Thomas Bryan said. “Our department is especially sensitive to home invasions. Our primary mission is to ensure that all Edison residents are safe in their own homes and secure in their neighborhoods.”
Phillips is being held on $250,000 bail at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick, police said.
Detective Ted Hamer conducted the investigation that led to Phillips’ arrest, with assistance from the department’s Special Operations Group and patrol officers.