South Brunswick Police Arrest Suspect in Liquor Store Robbery

South Brunswick Police arrested an Edison man this evening on charges of robbing a Dayton liquor store earlier this month.

Emmanuel Diaz, 21, was charged with robbery and simple assault for an incident that occurred at the Wine Gallery liquor store on April 8.

Police said Diaz entered the store, located at 24 Summerfield Boulevard, at around 7 p.m. and attempted to steal liquor.

Diaz was then confronted by the store manager and a scuffle ensued, according to police. Diaz then broke free and ran off into the parking lot, police said.  The store manager was uninjured in the incident.

Officer Ken Herman reviewed the surveillance video from the store and recognized the suspect as Diaz, and then interviewed several other people who also positively identified Diaz, according to police.

Attempts to locate Diaz over the past week were unsuccessful until tonight, when at approximately 5 p.m. Herman learned that Diaz was working at the McDonalds on Route 1 in South Brunswick. Diaz was arrested at his work without incident, police said. 

Officers transported Diaz to police headquarters where he was processed, before being taken to the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick in lieu of $50,000 bail.