FREEZING BURGLAR SAVED FROM SNOW PILE
South Brunswick Police saved a man from hypothermia early Friday morning. The 47 year old man had just broken into a nearby liquor store and hid in a snowbank when officers arrived. The man had been in the subzero cold and snow for nearly 45 minutes when an officer observed him. Chief Raymond Hayducka said, “The man was saved by being arrested. The freezing temperatures had already started to lower his body temperature when officers located him. The officers’ fast response and detailed search resulted in locating the stolen items and saving this man’s life.”
The incident began at 1:45am Friday morning when officers responded to the Viking Buy-Rite Wine and Liquor at 4095 Route 1 at 1:45am on a burglar alarm. Officers observed the front door of the liquor store smashed and numerous items taken. Officers searched the business but the suspect was not inside. The owner of the liquor store responded and showed officers video of the suspect breaking in. The video showed the suspect stole liquor, cigarettes, lighter and lottery tickets. In all the suspect stole over $650 dollars worth of merchandise and created $2000 dollars in damage to the door.
A half an hour after the alarm, Officer Mike Urstadt was driving around the large strip mall and noticed a man’s head peeking from behind an eight foot high snow pile. Officer Urstadt approached the man, later identified as George Pesavage Jr. of Flemington. Pesavage had frostbitten hands and was bleeding from cuts. His clothes were soaking wet from hiding in the snowbank. At his feet were two bags containing liquor, cigarettes, lighter and lottery tickets. Pesavage explained he was freezing and walking from Princeton. Officers placed Pesavage under arrest for burglary and criminal mischief.
He was taken by Kendall Park First Aid Squad to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. He was treated for hypothermia and numerous lacerations from breaking the glass door. After he was released from the hospital, he was taken to police headquarters and processed. He was lodged in the Middlesex County Correction Center pending a bail hearing.
