Police Arrest Suspect in Raceway Gas Hold-Up

Police have arrested a Long Branch man and charged him with the armed robbery of Raceway Gas Station Thursday.

Darius Williams, 24, of Witmer Place, was arrested on Tuesday after an investigation by the Long Branch Police. He was subsequently charged with three other armed robberies in other towns.

Long Branch Public Safety Director Jason Roebuck said Williams robbed Bell Liquors, 706 Broadway, Long Branch on Monday at 8:55 p.m.

"The suspect showed a small handgun and escaped the area in a vehicle after relieving the store owners of a 12 pack of Yuengling Lager and a sum of money from the register," Roebuck said in a release.

Roebuck said an investigation by Long Branch Police Det. Kim Leavy found Williams' vehicle, which was located Wednesday by Detectives Lt. Raymond Chaparro and Sgt. Jeff Pilone.

"Chaparro and Pilone located the vehicle at 148 Witmer Place, and subsequently were involved in a foot pursuit with Williams," Roebuck said. "They were joined by Sgt. Sanders, Sgt. Passantino, Cpl. Vogler and Officer Gonzalez from the Patrol Division and they were successful in apprehending the suspect after the short foot pursuit."

The proceeds from the Bell Liquors robbery were recovered by police. 

A multi-town investigation caused police to charge Williams with the armed robbery of three other businesses.

Williams was charged with the armed robbery of the Sunoco station in Elberon, the April 18 robbery of Raceway Gas in Middletown, and the April 9 robbery of a 7-11 in Bradley Beach. 

In the Raceway case, Williams allegedly threatened the owner of the gas station by pointing a handgun at him and demanded, "Give me the moneny that's in the register" and "Give me everything," according to documents released by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. 

Williams faces a slew of charges out of Middletown, Bradley Beach and Long Branch, including gun possession without a permit, possession of an imitation firearm for an unlawful purpose, fleeing an officer, robbery, unlawful use of a firearm and theft.

Middletown Police Det. Kelly Godley and Bradley Beach Police Det. Anthony Murray assisted in the investigation, Roebuck said.

Speaking for the Middletown Police Department, Det. Lt. Stephen Dollinger said in a statement, the department "gives credit to Det. Lt. Chaparro and Det. Sergeant Pilone for the excellent police work that resulted in locating the vehicle used in the robberies and developing Williams as a suspect. It is another example of how officers and police departments share information and work together to solve crimes."

Williams' bail was set at $800,000 by Superior Court Judge Francis Vernoia. He is being held in Monmouth County Jail in Freehold.