East Brunswick Teen Charged in Speedway Gas Station Robbery, Purse Snatching

East Brunswick, NJ - East Brunswick police say they have arrested the teen who punched and robbed a gas station attendant at the Speedway Gas Station on March 11, and it's the same person who snatched a woman's purse in Colchester Plaza on March 31. He was caught on security footage from the Speedway robbery, police said.

At approximately 10:38 p.m. on March 31, units were called to Colchester Plaza, Rt. 18 south and Tices Lane, for a call of a stolen purse and a male suspect fleeing the scene on foot. The suspect was described as a short black male in his teens wearing dark clothing and last seen running behind the KFC.

During the search and subsequent investigation, it was learned that Brian Jackson, a 19-year-old from East Brunswick, was determined to be a person of interest. Det. Dan Unkel and Det. Alex Danese of the East Brunswick Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit were able to locate Jackson several hours later, and during the course of a motor vehicle stop, he was placed under arrest for active warrants and hindering apprehension.

Police determined that Brian Jackson was responsible for the theft from Colchester Plaza along with the March 11 robbery that had occurred at the Speedway Gas Station, in which he crept up behind the gas station worker at midnight, punched him in the face, took money from his pockets and then ran south on Rt. 18.

He is being charged with both crimes, police said.