OFFICE OF THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR

MERCER COUNTY COURT HOUSE P.O. BOX 8068 TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08650-0068 PHONE: (609) 989-6350 (609) 989-6305 FAX #: (609) 989-0161

JOSEPH L. BOCCHINI, JR. Prosecutor

JANETTA D. MARBREY First Assistant Prosecutor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DeBlasio February 17, 2012

CONTACT: Casey A. (609) 989-6379

CHARGES FILED IN TWO TRENTON HOMICIDES

TRENTON -- Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. and Acting Trenton Police Director Dave Armitage announced today that charges have been filed in the April 2011 murder of Arjun Dyapa during an armed robbery at Brunswick Pharmacy and the November 2010 shooting death of Victor Thompson. It is no secret that police resources are stretched thin and that the Trenton Police are being asked to do more with less, Bocchini said. The issuance of complaints in these two homicides, coupled with the murder charges brought against David Eastmead and Curtis Brittingham, is proof positive of the commitment of this office and the Trenton police that we will not rest until offenders are brought to justice. We are also sensitive to the families of these victims and all of the victims of crime, Bocchini said. We are working tirelessly to ensure that justice is served and that the victims and their families have closure. The Trenton Police Department hopes that the issuing of these warrants and subsequent arrests of the individuals responsible will help bring closure to the families of the victims of these senseless crimes, Armitage said. We also want to emphasize, to the public and those who have been victimized by other acts of violence, that even with the recent reduction of personnel we will continue to investigate crimes to their logical conclusions and bring those responsible to justice, as has been shown today.

Charges were filed yesterday, February 16, in the following homicides: APRIL 29, 2011 Arjun Dyapa, 53, of Belle Meade, NJ, the owner of Brunswick Pharmacy in Trenton, was shot and killed during the course of a robbery. Complaints were signed charging Jamar Myers (DOB 11.23.85) of Lalor Street, Trenton, with murder, felony murder, robbery, weapons offenses and tampering with physical evidence. Myers was served his complaints at the Mercer County Correction Center where he was being held on unrelated charges. Myers is currently under indictment for the armed robbery of a Hamilton Township 7-Eleven in May 2011. Bail on the homicide was set at $1 million. NOVEMBER 18, 2010 Victor Thompson, 25, of Hamilton, was shot to death while sitting in his car on Carver Lane, Trenton, at approximately 6:20 p.m. Complaints were signed charging Kevin Wesley (DOB 2.23.84) of Cleveland Avenue, Trenton, with murder and weapons offenses. He was served his complaints at the Mercer County Correction Center where he is being held on unrelated charges. Bail on the homicide was set at $1 million. Other homicide cases closed this year include: OCTOBER 15, 2011 Evan Daniels, 27, was shot in the chest just before 9 p.m. in front of his Home Avenue residence. Complaints were signed February 1, 2012, charging David Eastmead (DOB 12.21.88) of Trenton, with murder and weapons offenses. Eastmead was served his complaints at the Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility where he was being held on unrelated charges. Bail on the homicide was set at $1 million. SEPTEMBER 5, 2009 Tito Glover, 21, was stabbed to death outside of Dee Dees Lounge on the corner of Brunswick Avenue and Chase Street during a street fight in the early morning hours. Complaints were signed on January 24, 2012, charging Curtis Brittingham (DOB 5.6.88) with aggravated manslaughter and weapons offenses. Brittingham was arrested yesterday in the Philadelphia area by the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force. Bocchini praised the outstanding work of everyone involved in the respective investigations, specifically Sgt. Robert Crusen, Sgt. Tom Watters, Detective Bryan Cottrell, Detective James Francis, Detective Bob McNally, Detective Gary Wasko, Assistant Prosecutor Lew Korngut, Assistant Prosecutor Brian McCauley and Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Kimm Lacken of the Mercer County Prosecutors Homicide Unit and Sgt. Chris Doyle, Detective Gary Britton,

Detective Brian Egan, Detective Edgar Rios and Detective Jason Snyder of the Trenton Police Department. Armitage commended the detectives of the Trenton Police Departments Homicide Unit and the assisting agencies for their dedication and efforts in removing these dangerous individuals from our city streets. Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###