Alleged gang members charged in S.B. raid
BY CHRIS GAETANO
Staff Writer

Brian Brown

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - Police raided an alleged gang hideout on Jeffrey Circle early Tuesday morning, leading to the arrest of a suspect in a Kendall Park burglary and two others on drug- and weapons-related charges.

Around midnight, about a dozen officers surrounded the three-bedroom townhouse after learning that Brian Brown, 18, of New Brunswick, a reputed gang member with an outstanding warrant for his arrest, was hiding out there. Five minutes later, the Emergency Response Team entered the premises and managed to secure all six people present within about 30 seconds. According to Detective James Ryan, the department's public information officer, most of the people were in the living room.

Also located in the hideout and arrested were the burglary suspect's brother, Raheem Brown, 24, of Plainsboro, and Christopher Johnson, 25, also of Plainsboro.

Johnson was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute. According to police, Johnson had marijuana packaged for sale and $300 in cash on him, and Raheem Brown had a replica handgun and a knife in his possession at the time of the raid.

Raheem Brown

Police acted on information from its gang intelligence unit, which informed officers that the house was being used as a hideout for gang members. According to Ryan, South Brunswick has confronted gang activity in the past, but he noted that Tuesday's bust was one of the larger gang arrests made by authorities in recent memory.

"We don't want any gang members to think that South Brunswick is a comfortable place to operate in," said Ryan.

The local government discussed gang activity, especially with regard to graffiti, around September last year. During a Township Council meeting then, Deputy Mayor Carol Barrett said she was told gang markings were already being seen in the township.

An ordinance mandating the cleanup of all graffiti on private property, gang-related or otherwise, was passed by the council, which noted that that is how gang activity often starts.

Brian Brown was charged with hindering apprehension and burglary. He was lodged in the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center, North Brunswick, on $5,000 bail. Johnson was lodged on $2,500 bail.

Raheem Brown was released to an area hospital for treatment of lingering injuries he sustained when he was shot in New Brunswick in April.

Ryan credited the success of the raid to the information provided by the gang intelligence officers, as well as the swift action of the officers who performed the operation. He said that South Brunswick will continue to confront gang activity and that to prevent incursions is an ongoing struggle.

"We've gotten gang activity in the past, we're always aware of it and we do our best to keep on top of it. It's a constant struggle," said Ryan.