Police Blotter ImageWeekly Police Blotter – Press Release

February 25th, 2014 thru March 3rd, 2014

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  • Drug Possession & Warrant (Arrest) – On Monday, March 3, 2014, at 1:24 a.m., Officer Michael Verwey stopped a vehicle in the Parking Lot of 7-11 located at 524 Lacey Road in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 18-year-old Drew Warthen of 2336 Odyssey Way in Toms River on a $275 Bloomfield Township Municipal Court Traffic warrant. Following the arrest on the warrant, Officer Verwey found Drew Warthen in possession of Marijuana. Drew Warthen was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where he was processed and charged with possession of Marijuana. Drew Warthen posted bail on the outstanding warrant and was released on a summons awaiting a court date.

  • Mutual Consent Fighting (Formal Charges) – On Saturday, March 2, 2014, at 12:05 p.m., Officer John Simonson responded to 1736 Lakeside Drive South in Forked River in reference to theft. Upon arrival, 48-year-old Leah Kern of 1332 Norwood Street in Forked River reported that she came to the Lakeside Drive South residence to confront the resident, 31-year-old Maureen Bart regarding the theft of a puppy. The two apparently engaged in a verbal confrontation which escalated into a physical confrontation. Both parties had signs of injury from the altercation which occurred prior to police arrival. Both parties were issued complaint summonses for mutual consenting fighting. The matter regarding the claim that a puppy was unlawfully taken is still under investigation.

  • Warrant (Arrest) – On Sunday, March 2, 2014, at 11:37 a.m., Officer Keith Pearce was assisting Officer Simonson on a dispute call at 1736 Lakeside Drive South in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of Maureen Bart on an active $405 Manchester Township Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear on a speeding summons. Maureen Bart was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where she was processed and released on her own recognizance as per the Manchester Township Municipal Court Clerk.

  • Trespass & Criminal Mischief – On Saturday, March 2, 2014, at 12:50 p.m., Lt. Michael DiBella responded to 240 Spruce Lane in reference to a trespassing incident. Debra Schaefer reported that between January 28, 2014 and March 2, 2014, someone forced open the fence gate on her property and made their way to a secured shed in the back yard. The lock to the shed was reportedly removed and the shed was entered. It is unknown if anything was removed from the shed. Damage to the gate and lock is estimated at $100.

  • DUI (Arrest) – On Sunday, March 02, 2014, at 1;40 a.m., Officer Dimitri Tsarnas and Officer Michael Verwey were on directed drug enforcement patrol when they observed a tan Chevy Cavalier traveling north on Route 9 from Forked River into Lanoka Harbor.  The driver of the vehicle failed to maintain its lane and the vehicle was stopped in the 7-11 parking lot located at 403 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 23-year-old Nicholas Kuzman of Forked River for DUI. The vehicle was impounded pursuant to John’s Law. Nicholas Kuzman was transported to Lacey Police Headquarters where he was processed and then released after being issued summonses for DUI, Reckless Driving, Failure to Maintain Lane, and Provisional Driver’s License Violation.

  • Theft from a Boat – On Saturday, March 1, 2014, 5:17 p.m., a boat owner responded to Lacey Township Police Headquarters to report a theft from his boat. The boat owner reported that an unknown person or persons entered his 1987, 37 foot, Silverton boat while it was dry docked at the Lanoka Harbor Marina located on Bay Way in Lanoka Harbor. The rear hatch was forced open causing damage to the lock. Binoculars valued at $300 were reported stolen while the damage to the hatch is estimated at $500.

  • Warrant (Arrest) – On Saturday, March 1, 2014, at 11:09 p.m., Officer George Resetar arrested 19-year-old Monica Bednarowicz of Avalon Avenue in Barnegat on an outstanding active $164 Toms River Township Municipal Court traffic warrant. The arrest was made during a motor vehicle stop.

  • Criminal Mischief (Auto) -On Friday, February 28, 2014, at 12:57 p.m., Officer Frederick Anderson responded to Bay Avenue in Forked River in reference to criminal mischief to an automobile. The vehicle owner reported that between 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 27, 2014, and 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 28, 2014, an unknown person or persons poured sugar in her gas tank and cut the brake lines of her 2004, Hyundai Sonata. Damage is estimated at $1,000.

  • Theft & Possession of CDS (Arrests) – On Thursday, February 27, 2014, at 9:52 a.m., Officer Frederick Anderson responded to headquarters for a theft report. A resident of 332 Briggs Avenue in Forked River reported that during the morning hours of February 27, 2014, her stepson, 18-year-old Michael Guarini of 332 Briggs Avenue in Forked River, stole her debit card from her purse and illegally withdrew $200 from her account. At approximately 3:00 p.m., Officer Anderson observed a blue Jeep stop in front of 332 Briggs Avenue and observed Michael Guarini get out of the vehicle. Officer Anderson detected the odor of Marijuana while speaking with the occupants of the vehicle. Investigation at the scene led to the discovery of Marijuana and drug paraphernalia. 18-year-old Michael Guarini of 332 Briggs Avenue, 18-year-old Jacob Smith of 112 East Lacey Road, and a 17-year-old juvenile male were arrested for possession of Marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Michael Guarini was charged with Burglary, Credit Card Theft, Theft of Movable Property, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bail was set for Michael Guarini at $7,500 with no ten percent option. He was transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility in default of the bail. The juvenile driver was charged on a juvenile complaint with Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The juvenile driver also received traffic summonses for Provisional Driver’s License violation and for having CDS in a Motor Vehicle. Jacob Smith was charged with Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was released on a summons awaiting a court date.

  • Shoplifting (Arrest) -On Thursday, February 27, 2014, at 2:50 p.m., Officer Michael Eden responded to the Walmart for an adult female shoplifter. The loss prevention officer reported that 27-year-old Alexis M. Azaceta of 103 Grand Street in Bayville concealed merchandise in her purse and at the bottom of her shopping cart in an attempt to leave the store without paying for the items. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of Alexis Azaceta for shoplifting merchandise valued at $235. Alexis Azaceta was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where she was processed and released on a summons.

  • Drug Possession and Warrant (Arrest) -On Wednesday, February 26, 2014, at 6:04 p.m., Officer Peter Donahue observed a male riding his bicycle across Lacey Road near the intersection of Parker Avenue in Forked River. The bicycle had no reflectors and was difficult to see creating a dangerous condition, so Officer Donahue stopped the bicyclist on Parker Avenue. Investigation led to the arrest of 38-year-old Thomas M. Britton of Ocean Gate on an outstanding $31,475 Ocean County warrant. A search incident to the warrant arrest uncovered a hypodermic syringe that was used to inject heroin. Thomas Britton was charged with possession of a hypodermic syringe and possession of CDS (heroin). Thomas Britton was unable to post bail and was transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility.

  • Criminal Mischief (Auto) – On Tuesday, February 25, 2013, at 11:58 a.m., Special Officer Jesse Urban was working as the court security officer in the Lacey Township Municipal Court, when he was approached by a Lanoka Harbor resident who reported that while she was in court, an unknown person “keyed” the driver side door of her vehicle while it was parked in the Lacey Township Municipal Complex parking lot. The damage is estimated at $1,000.

  • Drug Possession (Arrest) – On Tuesday, February 25, 2014, at 9:28 p.m., Officer Peter Donahue was on a directed drug enforcement assignment on Constitution Drive in Forked River in reference to citizen complaints of drug activity in the area. While monitoring activity in the area, Officer Donahue observed a red Jeep Cherokee pass through the stop sign located at the intersection of Independence Drive and Constitution Drive without stopping. The vehicle then stopped at a Constitution Drive residence briefly. Officer Donahue stopped the vehicle and investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, 57-year-old Salvatore Abruzzo of 513 Ocean Gate Avenue in Ocean Gate for possession of CDS. Salvatore Abruzzo was found to have Marijuana in his possession as well as another prescription pill bottle containing different types of pills. Salvatore Abruzzo was arrested and transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where he was processed and charged with possession of CDS (prescription pills) and possession of Marijuana.

  • Drug Possession (Arrest) – On Sunday, February 23rd, 2014, at 7:30 p.m., Officer Peter Donahue and Officer Scott Keefe responded to the area of Conifer Drive and Greenwood Lane in Forked River in reference to a person using Heroin inside a parked motor vehicle. The caller provided the vehicle registration and vehicle description. The vehicle was described as a black, 2009, Hyundai Santa Fe. As the officers were responding to the area, the caller reported that the vehicle had left the area. The responding officers observed the vehicle at the intersection of Sunrise Boulevard and Route 9 in Forked River. The officers conducted a motor vehicle stop at the intersection. Upon approaching the side window of the vehicle and speaking with the driver, 26-year-old Justin L. Lilore of 7 Ermine Court in Whiting, Officer Donahue observed a hypodermic syringe and wax folds in the center console cup holder. Two of the wax folds were empty and two contained Heroin. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of Justin Lilore. Justin Lilore was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where he was processed, charged, and transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility in default of $10,000 bail after being charged with Possession of Heroin and Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe.