SOUTH BRUNSWICK – A 21-year-old male from the Dayton section of South Brunswick has been charged with recent burglaries to local businesses and an unrelated assault.
On June 1 at 6:28 p.m., Officer Martin Halmi was dispatched the Dunkin Donuts in Dayton to investigate an individual harassing employees. Halmi was advised that an unknown male walked into the Dunkin Donuts holding a cell phone and was recording himself. The male suspect reportedly began asking employees to say something for the camera. Employees said the male then jumped over the counter, took a doughnut and drink, and left money on the counter before leaving the business, according to information provided by the South Brunswick Police Department.
On June 5 at 1:48 p.m., Officer Christine Harris was dispatched to the Cheng Garden restaurant in Dayton for another incident of an individual harassing employees. Harris was advised that an unknown male, matching the description of the suspect from the previous Dunkin Donuts incident, walked into the kitchen area of the restaurant and was recording on his camera phone. When employees asked the male suspect to leave, he allegedly took a can of soda and left money before leaving the area, according to the statement.
Surveillance footage from the incident at Dunkin Donuts was later released to the public. An anonymous tip was provided which assisted with the identification of the Dayton resident as the individual in the footage. As Detective Brady Shelcusky investigated the incidents from the local businesses, the suspect was also identified in a separate investigation of an assault of a teenager, according to the statement.
On June 6, officers went to the man’s residence in an attempt to locate him. He was in the parking lot near his residence at this time and then allegedly fled on foot from officers at the scene, according to the statement. Attempts were made to locate the suspect, but he was not found.
On June 24, the man was located in Newark and was charged with two counts of burglary, aggravated assault and resisting arrest by flight in relation to the investigations in South Brunswick, according to the statement. He was then lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center pending his first court appearance.