EDISON — A few days after the Dollar Deals store in the Inman Avenue Shopping Center was robbed at gunpoint, police have charged two men in the robbery that left the store’s owner, a 68-year-old Fords man, with minor injuries while he attempted to thwart the robbery of his business.
The robbery occurred at 7:25 p.m. on Jan. 15 at the store at 1105 Inman Ave., according to Police Lt. Robert Dudash.
A 54-year-old man from Edison and a 31-year-old man from Sabinal, Texas, were charged with the robbery.
The victim told police that an unknown male, later identified as the 54-year-old, was reportedly armed with a small black handgun and another unknown male, later identified as the younger male, had allegedly struck him with a folding chair before the two suspects stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the register and fled out the front entrance of the store, Dudash said.
The victim sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene by JFK EMS.
Through an investigation led by Detective Joseph Kenney Jr. and Detective Christopher Sorber, police located the elder suspect in a van parked on Weston Forbes Court in Edison at approximately 6 p.m. Jan. 16.
Bryant was taken into custody by officers from the Edison Police Department Narcotics Unit and was subsequently charged with robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, certain persons not to have weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Dudash.
The Texas native was taken into custody at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 19 by Police Officer Jason Chang after he allegedly shoplifted at the Home Depot on Route 1 and fled on foot. Shortly after, he was reportedly located walking on Main Street and was subsequently apprehended, police said. Through further investigation, he was identified and charged with conspiracy and robbery in connection with the robbery at the Dollar Deals Store.
In addition, the suspect from Edison has also been charged with burglary and theft in connection with two recent burglaries at the Glow Beauty Bar, 1099 Inman Ave. on Dec. 13, and Ferraro’s Pizzeria, 1067 Inman Ave. on Jan. 12.
In both instances, the method of entry was reportedly through a roof during the late evening hours, police said.
Police Chief Thomas Bryan commended the multitude of officers and detectives that responded to and investigated the incidents.
“Through their thoroughness and tenacity, two felons are off of our streets,” he said.
Both suspects were issued no bail warrants and were transported to Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick.
