Three are Charged in Connection with Scotch Plains Burglaries

have arrested a man in connection with several burglaries that occurred on February 26 and March 16, 2012 at a Route 22 Gas station. Several thousand dollars in cash and items was stolen from the scene.

 Zollie Williams, 54, of Scotch Plains was arrested at 12:20 a.m. on March 23 while walking on Pinehurst Avenue in Scotch Plains. He has been charged with two counts of burglary. He was processed and transported to the Union County jail in lieu of bail that was set by the Scotch Plains Municipal Court at $54,000.00 Williams is scheduled to appear in the Union County Superior Court on April 2 in Elizabeth.

Police Chief Brian Mahoney stated that Williams became a suspect when the Scotch Plains detective bureau obtained a surveillance video from the scene of the burglary. Police stated that the burglar gained entry to the station by smashing the window to the front door.

Scotch Plains Police have also arrested two individuals in connection with a burglary that occurred on March 24 at a Route 22 East store.

Daniel DeMaurez, 20, of Scotch Plains, and Matthew Johnson, 24, of Plainfield, were arrested in Scotch Plains while walking on Route 22 at approximately 3:40 a.m. on March 24. They were processed and then transported to the Union County jail in lieu of bail set by the Scotch Plains Municipal Court.

Scotch Plains Police Chief Brian Mahoney stated that while on a routine patrol of the area, Officer Cheney observed the two walking down Route 22 carrying several items. After conducting an investigation, Police determined that the items were taken from a store on Route 22 East that had been burglarized earlier that evening. Police stated that the burglar gained entry to the station by smashing the window to the front door.

Bail for DeMaurez has been set at $73,500. Bail for Johnson has been $16,000. They are scheduled to appear in the Union County Superior Court on March 28, 2012 in Elizabeth.