Police, canine thwart hardware store burglary

JAMESBURG - Police trapped and arrested a burglary suspect inside a Gatzmer Avenue business Monday night after being tipped off by an off-duty state trooper.

The suspect, Joseph F. Dillon, 32, of Jamesburg, was arrested after being injured by a police dog during a search of the building.

The trooper, former resident Michael Budrewicz, called borough police at 11:40 p.m. Monday to report a suspicious subject walking in the area between the Jamesburg Hardware Store and the Jamesburg Public Library, both on Gatzmer Avenue. The witness said the subject, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, had parked his white pickup truck on Gatzmer Avenue and appeared to have tools in his hand as he walked between the buildings.

Jamesburg police were immediately dispatched for a burglary in progress. Upon their arrival they found a side window broken that allowed access into the basement of the hardware store building, and on the ground outside they found a set of bolt cutters and a screwdriver, according to a police report. At that time, Jamesburg Police Sgt. Robert Tonkery called for additional units to assist in securing the area.

Manalapan police were also contacted and responded with a canine unit to assist in the search of the building.

After police made several attempts to convince the suspect to exit the building, officers and the dog went inside to search. Police found and subdued Dillon after he had "a brief altercation" with the dog, police said.

Tonkery, Jamesburg Patrolman Joseph Quinn and Manalapan Patrolman Frank Krause, with his dog "Rocco," made the arrest.

Dillon was charged with burglary, resisting arrest, harming a law enforcement animal, criminal mischief and aggravated assault on police officer.

After being treated and released for wounds received during his altercation with the dog, Dillon was lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center, North Brunswick, in default of $50,000 with no 10 percent option.

Also assisting at the scene were Jamesburg Patrolman Kevin Wilson and Detective Louis Hornberger, and members of the Monroe Township Police Department.