2 Men Charged With Robbery, Aggravated Assault In Lawrence QuickChek Fight

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ —Two men from Trenton were charged with robbery, aggravated assault and other offenses in an incident that occurred Nov. 9 at a local QuickChek, Police Chief Chris Longo said Tuesday.

Anthony Bethea, 21, and Breon Phelps, 23, were both charged with robbery (second-degree), aggravated assault (second-degree) and theft (third-degree).

On Nov. 9 around 9:56 p.m., officers responded to a fight in progress inside the QuickChek located at 303 Brunswick Circle Extension.

Officers found a 25-year-old man assaulted inside the store and his cell phone and cash were stolen during the altercation, police said. The suspects left the store and fled the area with the stolen property. The man suffered serious injuries during the physical altercation, police said.

According to an investigation led by Det. Sean Kerins, Phelps and Bethea were identified as suspects. The fight at QuickChek stemmed from a verbal argument that took place days before the incident in Trenton, police said.

On Dec. 8 authorities took Bethea into custody and charged him. Phelps was arrested on Monday and charged. Phelps and Bethea were taken to the Mercer County Correctional Center and are awaiting a detention hearing.

The Lawrence Township Police Department was assisted by the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and the Trenton Police Department.

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