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MONTGOMERY TWP., N.J. – Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and Montgomery Township Chief of Police Silvio Bet announced the arrest of Brian Pyke, age 65, of Calabash, North Carolina in relation to an aggravated assault that occurred in Montgomery Township on Monday, June 16, 2025.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that on Monday, June 16, 2025, at approximately 1:32 p.m. officers from the Montgomery Police Department, Montgomery EMS and Robert Wood Johnson Paramedics responded to the area of Willow Run Lane for a report of a male suffering from stab wounds. Montgomery Police officers arrived on scene along with Montgomery EMS and provided emergency care to the victim. The victim, a Montgomery resident, was transported to an area hospital for stab wounds to the shoulder and abdomen. The victim underwent emergency surgery and is expected to survive. Witnesses were able to provide Somerset County Communications dispatchers with a description of a male in a red sports utility vehicle fleeing the area after the stabbing. Somerset County Communications relayed this information to Montgomery Township Police officers. Additional Montgomery Township Police officers that were responding to the scene located the vehicle on County Route 533. Officers initiated a motor vehicle stop on the vehicle, however the suspect refused to stop, resulting in a pursuit through Montgomery, Princeton, and into South Brunswick. The suspect, later identified as Brian Pyke, was apprehended in South Brunswick and placed under arrest. During the pursuit, Pyke struck a Montgomery Township Police vehicle. The officers involved were not injured.
Defendant Pyke was transported to an area hospital for minor injuries sustained from this incident and was then subsequently transported to Montgomery Township Police headquarters for processing. Detectives from the Montgomery Township Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit responded to investigate.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that defendant Brian Pyke was charged with 2nd degree Aggravated Assault, 2nd degree Eluding, and 3rd degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose. Defendant Pyke was transported to the Somerset County Jail where he was lodged pending a hearing on this matter.
The investigation is still ongoing by the Montgomery Township Police Detective Bureau and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, however there are no safety concerns to the community. A motive for this assault remains under investigation.
Prosecutor McDonald would like to thank members of the South Brunswick Police Department for their assistance with this investigation and the concerned citizens that alerted authorities to this incident providing a description of the vehicle.
Prosecutor McDonald, Chief Roman, and Chief Bet request anyone with information relating to this investigation to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Montgomery Township Police Department at (908) 359-3222 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
NOTE: The charges are merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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