Police blotter
The information below is provided by the police unless otherwise noted.
Princeton
Throwin’ hands: Police responded to a fight on the first block of Palmer Square West but later determined the fisticuffs occurred across the street in John Street Ally. The victim, whose name and condition was not released, was taken by ambulance to University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro with a 2-inch laceration.
Ewing
Bag of tools: Brandon White, 29, of Morrisville, Pa., was picked up for shoplifting, He’s accused of jacking nearly $800 worth of merchandise from the Hope Depot on the 1600 block of Olden Avenue. Take this bill and stick it: Dominique LeBoeuf, 25, of Nutley, was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after police were called over a hotel bill dispute. LeBoeuf stiffed The Element on Sam Weinroth Road of the room tab. Warrant check: Breyon Rogers, 28, of Trenton, and Taquan Jenkins, 30, of Ewing, got picked up on warrants after police pulled them over on Sixth Street. Blame it on the alcohol: Marcus Evans, 41, of Trenton, was hooked and booked after police suspected him of driving drunk on Olden Avenue.
Freehold
Beach bribe: Life’s not a beach for a former hotel owner. Gabe Baron, the 71-year-old co-owner of Belmar Beach Hotel, is accused of trying to bribe a fire official, Monmouth prosecutors said. The Galloway Township man offered cash to the Belmar fire company in order to protect his property from being cited for municipal violations by the fire marshal. Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni did not say in a news release how much Baron allegedly offered the unnamed fire official, who ended the conversation and told the cops what happened. The marshal is listed on Belmar’s website as Ryan Dullea, although it’s unclear if that is who Baron allegedly tried enticing. Baron faces five to 10 years in prison if he’s convicted of second-degree offer of unlawful benefit to public servant for official behavior. He was also hit with a third-degree charge. Prosecutor Lawrence Nelsen was assigned the case.
Winslow Township
Scary heist: Police are searching for two men who robbed a pharmacy at gunpoint, holding one employee at gunpoint and exchanging gunfire with another employee inside the store. The holdup happened Nov. 30 around 7 p.m. at the Professional Center Pharmacy on the 300 block of South Route 73. Following the tense gun battle, the two men fled the store and left in a silver four-door Pontiac which sped southbound on Route 73. The men made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. Police released video and photographs of the suspects, who entered the store wearing black hoodies, blue jeans and dark shoes. Their facers were covered with ski masks, to conceal their identities, and they had gloves on in an attempt to avoid leaving fingerprints. Surveillance from inside the store showed the men scaling the front counter, guns in hand, after they entered the store. Cameras outside the store showed the men running out of the store a short time later and dashing to the getaway car, which peeled out of the parking lot. Authorities urged the public not to approach or attempt to apprehend the suspects, who are believed to be dangerous, and to immediately call 911. The investigation remains open, and anyone with information or tips should contact Camden Prosecutor Office Detective Martin Farrell at 856-225-8428 of Winslow Township Detective Carl Mueller at 609-567-0700. Greedy chief: Accused double-dipper Sammy Arroyo was trying to scam Perth Amboy out of cash while working as an instructor when he was on the clock for the city, Middlesex prosecutors said. The city battalion fire chief was slapped with theft charges, prosecutor Andrew Carey announced. He is accused of using a city computer to help him pull off the pay scheme. Arroyo, 42, was charged with counts of theft by unlawful taking and computer theft. An investigation by Perth Amboy Detective Panagitis Bouleris began after city officials contacted police when they uncovered the scam. Arroyo is accused of fleecing the city for more than a year, between March 2016 and May of this year. The Middlesex prosecutor did not say how much he earned while he was also doubledipping by putting in time as an instructor at the Middlesex County Fire Academy when he was clocked in for the city. Arroyo, a 19-year veteran, turned himself into authorities at the city police department, where he was booked and released. The battalion chief, who state records show earns $123,770 a year, has been suspended without pay while the investigation continues. Anyone with additional information is asked to reach out to Detective Bouleris at 732-324-3800.