March 6, 2024
SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka announced yesterday, that a 5-month joint investigation by South Brunswick Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) with assistance from the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office resulted in the arrest of one man and seizure of guns and ammo. “Taking illegal guns off the streets is a top priority by all in law enforcement. This case focused on the illegal trafficking of firearms from other states to New Jersey. It was a total team effort involving federal, county, and local law enforcement that stopped the gun-running operation,” said Hayducka. Detectives developed information about illegal gun sales in central New Jersey. Over weeks, it was determined that Wayne Bagley age 68 of South Brunswick was selling handguns. The investigation found that Bagley would travel to other states and make purchases of handguns at gun shows. He would then transport the firearms back to New Jersey and sell them to people. Throughout the investigation, Bagley traveled to West Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Bagley had been previously denied a permit to purchase firearms in 2023. On Thursday, the Middlesex County Special Operations Response Team (SORT) arrested Bagley as he was driving. They then executed a search warrant at Bagley’s home on Texas Avenue. ATF Special Agents along with detectives recovered 7 firearms and over one thousand rounds of ammunition from his Texas Avenue home. Detectives impounded the vehicle Bagley was driving and executed a second search warrant on Tuesday. Detectives recovered additional ammunition and gun cases. Bagley was charged with multiple violations of the illegal transport and sale of firearms, illegal sale of ammunition, and conspiracy. Bagley was lodged at the Middlesex County Correction Center pending a detention hearing.
South Brunswick investigative team included Sergeant Timothy Hoover, Detective Brian Luck, Detective Rick Delucia, Detective Bryan Garrison, Detective Jamal Benbow, and Sergeant Brady Shelcusky.