South Brunswick Man Stole Truck From Rt. 27 Gas Station, Cops Say

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — On Sunday evening, South Brunswick police found and arrested a local man who they said stole a pickup truck while it had been left running at a North Brunswick gas station.

The stolen truck was found in the Royal Oaks apartment complex off Rt. 1, and a Patch reader actually witnessed police "cornering the white pickup truck" Sunday evening on Buttonwood Court.

According to South Brunswick police, South Brunswick Officer Jamal Benbow was notified at 5:15 p.m. Sunday that a white Toyota pickup truck had just been stolen out of a gas station on Rt. 27 in North Brunswick. The driver stopped for only a few seconds to buy something at the gas station, and he left his car running in the cold weather, South Brunswick police said. The suspect was waiting and took off with his pickup, they said.

Officer Benbow searched the area, and at 5:45 p.m. he spotted the stolen truck in the Royal Oaks development, police said.

Officer Benbow along with Officer Brian Luck, Officer George Morgan, Sergeant Richard Schwarz and Sergeant Dennis Yuhasz conducted what police describe as a "high-risk car stop" and took the suspect into custody.

The suspect was identified as a local man, Brion Bey, 23, of South Brunswick. Police found seven hypodermic syringes and a heroin fold in the pickup, they said. Bey was charged with receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was lodged at the Middlesex County Correction Center pending his first court appearance.

“The officers did an excellent job recovering this pickup truck in less than 45 minutes from when it was stolen," said South Brunswick police Chief Raymond Hayducka. "The recovery was a direct result of great communication and teamwork between North Brunswick and South Brunswick police.”

South Brunswick police asked residents not to leave cars running, even though the temptation maybe high in the chilly weather.

Mugshot of Brion Bey released by South Brunswick Police. Note: South Brunswick police originally released the wrong photo of the suspect.