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Bruce Thompson, 62, was arrested, the South Brunswick Police Department said in a news release on Monday, Sept. 30. Thompson recently moved to the township from Florida.
Officers were first called to the Riya Plaza on Route 27 at around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25. A man reported that another man approached him and threatened to shoot him.
The man said he didn't know why the suspect wanted to shoot him. The suspect had left the area by the time officers arrived.
Police then received a call about a break-in at VFW Post 9111 on Henderson Road at around 10:50 a.m. A witness reported someone leaving the area on a bicycle.
Officers then found Thompson nearby on a bike with a cut on his hand and holding a Corona Extra beer bottle. As the officers questioned Thompson, other police went to the VFW post.
Police found someone smashed a side window and noticed blood on the ground. The thief went into the cash register and stole alcohol, including a Corona Extra.
The owner of D'Bella Salon then went up to the officers at the VFW post and reported someone tried to break into her salon. Officers found a rock near a damaged window, along with blood and a Corona Extra bottle cap on the ground.
Police said the Corona bottle Thompson was holding and the bottle cap at the salon came from the VFW post.
Officers then found video from Riya Plaza showing Thompson threatening to shoot the man earlier. The owner of FC Tacos and Cantina told police at the plaza that someone smashed a side door trying to break into the restaurant.
Thompson was charged with three counts of burglary, three counts of criminal mischief, and terroristic threats.
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