'Donut Desperado' Arrested In South Brunswick, Police Say

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — The "Donut Desperado" has been arrested, say South Brunswick police.

South Brunswick police say they've arrested the man who has been jumping up on the counters of local businesses, including the Dunkin' Donuts in Dayton, and then helping himself to a doughnut before walking out — all while live-streaming the encounters on social media. A similar incident happened at the Cheng Garden restaurant in Dayton as well, police said.

Police said a local man, Daimeir Nelson, 21, of Dayton, has been charged with the burglaries, as well as an unrelated assault.

He first struck at the Dunkin' (Donuts) on Georges Road on June 1, say police: An unknown male walked into the Dunkin' holding a cell phone, recording himself. The suspect asked employees to say something for the camera. Employees said the man then jumped over the counter, took a doughnut and drink, and left money on the counter before leaving.

A few days later, on June 5 police were called to the Cheng Garden restaurant on a call of a man harassing employees. A man who matched the description from the Dunkin' incident walked into the kitchen area of the restaurant while recording on his camera. When employees asked him to leave, he took a can of soda and left money on the counter.

Surveillance footage from the incident at Dunkin' was later released to the public. Someone anonymously called South Brunswick police to say that Nelson was the individual in the footage. As Detective Brady Shelcusky investigated the incident, Nelson was also identified in a separate investigation of an assault of a teenager, said police.

On June 6, South Brunswick police went to Nelson's home in the Dayton section and tried to arrest him. They saw him in the parking lot, but he ran off, police said.

This Monday, June 24 Nelson was located and arrested in Newark.

He was charged with two counts of burglary, aggravated assault, and resisting arrest by flight. Nelson was lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending his first court appearance.

Initial Patch report: 'Donut Desperado' Strikes Dunkin' In South Brunswick, Police Say