November 8, 2022

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Lawrence Police reported that at approximately 12:35 p.m. on Monday, November 7, 2022, Lawrence Township Police Officers were dispatched to the campus of Rider University for a report of a suspicious male. The suspicious male was reportedly loitering on-campus prior to following two female students on foot toward their residence hall. As the girls entered their residence hall, the suspicious male was able to enter behind the girls, following them toward their dorm room.

Once the girls entered their dorm room, the male remained in the hallway and approached their room door. The male was observed to be standing directly in front of their room, and was observed to be bending over, and attempting to look under the door and into the girl’s dorm room.

The students contacted Rider University Public Safety who responded and located the male in the residence hall. The male identified himself as a food delivery driver and was escorted off-campus.

Detective James Steimle of the Lawrence Police Department was able to identify the suspicious male as Johnny Rodriguez-Brito, (26 years old), of the 700 block of River Rd, Ewing, NJ. At the completion of Detective Steimle’s investigation, Rodriguez-Brito was charged with Burglary: 2C: 18-2a(1) 3rd degree offense, Criminal Trespass – Peering: 2C: 18-3C 4th degree offense, and Harassment: 2C: 33-4C, (P.D.P.) offense. Rodriguez-Brito was arrested at his residence on November 7, 2022, he was subsequently transported to Mercer County Correctional Center awaiting a detention hearing.

This incident is under investigation by Detective James Steimle, Detective Ryan Dunn and Officer Kamil Zander of the Lawrence Police Department. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Lawrence Township Police Detective Steimle at jsteimle@lawrencetwp.com or 609-844-7135.

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