Suspect leads police on three-town chase

METUCHEN — An early-morning bank robbery at the Skylands Bank on Middlesex Avenue last week spurred a police chase spanning three towns.

Jermaine N. Dawkins, 37, of Staten Island, N.Y., was arrested and charged with robbery of an undisclosed amount about a half-hour after he allegedly robbed the bank on June 9.

"We received an alarm of a holdup shortly after 9 a.m. after the bank opened," said Patrolman David Liantonio. "The suspect's demands were all verbal, and there was no mention of a weapon."

An employee at the bank told police that Dawkins fled in a silver or gray sport utility vehicle, which had its license plate covered up with a piece of cardboard that said "lost plate."

Liantonio said the police dispatcher sent out the description over the county hotline, which distributed the information to the surrounding townships.

Edison Police Officer Lisa Pensak was working an overtime construction assignment along Route 1 when she observed a silver vehicle that matched the description that was sent over the air.

Pensak, who was in full uniform and driving an Edison police cruiser, attempted to pull the suspect over; however, he did not stop.

"It wasn't a high-speed chase; the suspect was going the speed limit, but he just didn't stop," Liantonio said.

The chase led Pensak and other Edison police onto Route 18, where East Brunswick police and FBI agents joined the pursuit.

"The suspect got stuck in traffic on Tices Lane where police were able to apprehend him," said Liantonio.

Dawkins' bail was set at $500,000 with no 10 percent option, and he was transported to the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center, North Brunswick.

Edison police also charged Dawkins with eluding police.

This is not the first offense for Dawkins. According to the New York State Department of Correctional Services, Dawkins served seven years for first- and second-degree robbery and first-degree attempted robbery. He was released in 2005 and is currently on parole.