An off-duty South Brunswick officer and his retired law enforcement father are credited with helping catch a burglary suspect in West Windsor.
On Friday, January 9, 2025, at approximately 1:12 pm, the West Windsor Police Department Communications center received a 9-1-1 call and dispatched patrol officers to a report of a residential burglary in progress on South Post Rd. The resident received an alert indicating his burglary alarm (glass break) was activated, at which time he requested his neighbor, a retired South Brunswick Deputy Chief, to check the perimeter of his home. Retired Deputy Chief J. Stoddard and his son, Officer Daniel Stoddard, a current South Brunswick Police Officer who was off duty at the time, conducted a check of the residence and observed that a rear bedroom window had been broken. Ret. Deputy Chief Stoddard called 9-1-1, and while awaiting patrol’s arrival, they observed the suspect exiting the residence from the broken window.
The suspect was instructed to stop by Officer Stoddard, at which time a foot pursuit was initiated. The suspect ran into Mercer County Park and entered a 2007 Silver Hyundai Santa Fe that was parked in a lot near the soccer fields.
Officer Stoddard captured a photo of the suspect and vehicle to include the vehicle’s license plate and provided that to responding officers. The suspect fled by driving onto the soccer fields through the park and onto Old Trenton Rd. Patrol officers arrived, and it was believed the suspect vehicle fled into Robbinsville Twp. A bulletin was issued, and Robbinsville Officers located the vehicle on US Route 130 Sout,h where they attempted to effectuate a motor vehicle stop; however, the vehicle fled onto 195 west.
Subsequent investigation revealed that the registered owner of the vehicle resided on Monmouth St. in Trenton. Officers were requested to assist and units from the Mercer County Special Investigations Unit, the New Jersey State Police Crime Suppression Unit, Trenton Police Department and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department all responded in some capacity to assist. Undercover officers observed the suspect vehicle pull into the driveway of the residence and observed an individual matching the suspect exit the driver’s door and proceed to enter the front door of the residence. West Windsor Detectives along with Officers from the Trenton Police Department and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, maintained a perimeter around the residence for approximately 4 hours before the suspect exited the residence and turned himself in. Miguel A. Vargas, age 37, of Trenton, was taken into custody. A search warrant was executed on the residence with the assistance of the Mercer County Tactical Response team. A search revealed evidence of the burglary as well as possible proceeds from an unrelated burglary.
Vargas was charged with Burglary (2nd degree) and Criminal Mischief (3rd degree).
South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said, “An officer is never truly off duty or retired. This was excellent work by a father–son team who have served our community for decades. Their quick actions led to the capture of this burglar. They represent the best of our department.”
