Off-Duty Police Officer, Son Foil Alleged Robbery At Runnemede CVS
By Natasha Brown
RUNNEMEDE, N.J., (CBS) -- When Sergeant Dan Murray and his 18-year-old son darted into the CVS at 9th Avenue and the Black Horse Pike in Runnemede on Monday evening, it was to pick up a few personal items.
Little did the off-duty officer know he would come up close and personal with a robbery suspect trying to make a getaway.
"When I was at the counter checking out and getting ready to walk out the door, I observed a male walking up the aisle with a mask on like halfway up his face," said Sgt. Dan Murray.
The suspect had just allegedly robbed a pharmacist at the back of the store at knife-point, allegedly toting at least $11,000 worth of OxyContin and Percocet towards the exit.
"There was another customer, a Runnemede resident, chasing him, asking me to stop him," said Sgt. Murray.
Store surveillance video captured the scuffle that came next. Sgt. Murray in plain clothes, his son jumping in seconds later, tackling the alleged robber before he made it out the door.
"I grabbed him at the front of the door and started wrestling with him. At that time my son Bryan Murray jumped in and helped me and we detained the subject until uniformed police officers arrived," said Sgt. Murray.
"He went to just being a cop, you could tell he knew exactly what he was doing, it was really something else, you know. He's saying I'm the hero, I think he's the hero, I'm really proud of him," said Bryan Murray.
For Sgt. Murray an 18-year veteran of the Runnemede Police Department, it's what he's professionally trained to do on or off-duty.
His son's motive for helping to foil this robbery is much more personal.
"I wasn't even thinking of him stealing, I was thinking about him trying to harm my dad, to be honest with you. I'm glad I stopped him from stealing, but the main thing for me was to try to help my dad," said Bryan.
"We are always working, we are always keeping our eyes open, and when we have to get involved we will," said Sgt. Murray.
Twenty-seven-year-old Matthew Donohoe, of Runnemede, NJ, will face robbery, aggravated assault and other charges. He's being held on $100,000 bail.
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