Police Blotter ImageWeekly Police Blotter – Press Release

August 6th, thru August 11th, 2014

.

.

  • Theft (Lawn Tractor) – On Sunday, August 10, 2014, at 5:40 p.m., Officer Anthony Sarno responded to the 1400 block of Kenney Street in Forked River in reference to a theft. The homeowner reported that an unknown person or persons stole his John Deere lawn tractor from the backyard of his residence between 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, 2014 and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 10, 2014. The lawn tractor is described as a green John Deere riding lawn mower valued at $2,500.

  • Theft (Lawn Tractor) – On Sunday, August 10, 2014, at 1:03 p.m., Officer Anthony Sarno responded to the 1700 block of Edgewood Road in Forked River regarding a theft of a riding lawn mower. The homeowner reported that his gray Craftsman, Model 38 riding lawnmower was stolen from the backyard of his residence between Wednesday, August 6, 2014 and Sunday, August 10, 2014. The lawn mower is valued at $600.

  • Theft (Lawn Tractor) – On Sunday, August 10, 2014, at 9:05 a.m., Officer Anthony Sarno responded to the 1500 block of Claire Road in Forked River regarding a theft of a riding lawn mower. The homeowner reported that his red, Wheelhouse brand riding lawnmower was stolen from the backyard of his residence during the overnight hours between Saturday, August 9, 2014 and Sunday, August 10, 2014.  The value of the lawn mower is $200.

  • Warrant Arrest – On Monday, August 11, 2014, at 9:26 p.m., Officer Peter Donahue was on patrol when he observed 28-year-old John M. Sabie of 755 Birch Road in Lanoka Harbor walking south on Oak Road near the intersection of Laurel Boulevard. Officer Donahue was aware that John Sabie had an active arrest warrant out of the Newark Municipal Court. Officer Donahue placed John Sabie under arrest. John Sabie was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where he was processed and released R.O.R. by the Newark Court Clerk pending a new court date.

  • Traffic Accident (Injury) – On Sunday, August 10, 2014, at 10:10 a.m., Officer Daniel Ricciardella responded to Lacey Road near the intersection of Vaughn Avenue for a report of a motor vehicle accident involving a bicyclist. A red 2-door Saturn Ion driven by 62-year-old Janis Brown of Forked River was traveling west on Lacey Road when a 13-year-old juvenile male of Forked River attempted to cross Lacey Road while riding his bicycle. The driver was unable to stop in time and struck the rear end of the bicycle, causing the juvenile to fall off the bicycle. The juvenile male was not wearing a helmet at the time, and as a result of the crash, suffered what appeared to be minor superficial injuries to his face. The juvenile male was taken to Community Medical Center by the Lacey Township First Aid Squad for treatment.

  • Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, August 9, 2014, at 6:21 p.m. Special Officer Russell Moller responded to the dirt road behind the Lacey Shell, located at 922 Lacey Road, Forked River, to assist Lieutenant Michael DiBella who was out with a suspicious automobile. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 50-year-old Lance Gethard of Fountain Drive in Toms River, NJ, on an outstanding $1,414 Absecon Borough Municipal Court traffic warrant. Lance Gethard was transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility to be held awaiting transfer to Absecon.

  • Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, August 9, 2014, at 12:22 p.m., Officer Andrew Slota and Officer George Resetar responded to the area of Sunrise Boulevard and Nautilus Boulevard for a report of a dispute between a male and female. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 32-year-old Justin L. Marshall of Tampa Road in Forked River on an outstanding $700 Wall Township Municipal Court traffic warrant. Justin Marshall was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where he was processed and released after posting cash bail.

  • Brush Fires – During the late night hours between Wednesday, August 6, 2014, and Friday, August 8, 2014, an unknown person or persons purposely ignited some brush they placed in the roadway on Basin Road near the Ash Road Park in Lanoka Harbor. Three separate incidents have occurred.

  • Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, August 9, 2014, at 11:16 a.m., Special Officer James Perotti was on directed patrol of the Ash Road Park when he observed two subjects in the park after hours. Alexandro Tsarnas, 19, of 108 Laurel Boulevard in Lanoka Harbor and 19-year-old Casey Sinopoli of 710 Clairmore Avenue in Lanoka Harbor were identified by Officer Perotti. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of Casey Sinopoli on an active $102 traffic warrant. Casey Sinopoli was transported to Lacey Police Headquarters where he was processed and released after posting cash bail.

  • Theft from a Vehicle – On Friday, August 8, 2014, at 8:49 p.m., Officer George Resetar met with a theft victim at police headquarters. The victim reported that while she was visiting a friend around 6:00 p.m. on Friday, August 8, 2014, an unknown person or persons stole her cell phone from her unlocked, white, 2006, Nissan Altima as it was parked in the roadway in front of 406 Lawrence Drive in Lanoka Harbor. The stolen phone is described as a white, Samsung Galaxy S5, 16gb, with a white/gray Otterbox case, valued at $650.

  • Theft from a Vehicle – On Friday, August 8, 2014, at 4:26 p.m., Officer Michael Hein met with a theft victim at police headquarters. The theft reportedly occurred at her residence on the 400 block of Bay Way in Lanoka Harbor. Stephanie Franco reported that between 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 3, 2014 and 7:30 a.m. on Monday, August 4, 2014, an unknown person or persons stole $180 cash from her vehicle. The black, 2000, Jeep Grand Cherokee was unlocked and parked in the driveway of the residence during the incident. The victim also reported that the same vehicle was entered the following night between 10:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m.

  • Fighting & Resisting Arrest – On Friday, August 8, 2014, at 1:33 a.m., Officer Andrew Slota responded to 1063 Laurel Boulevard in reference to a possible fight in progress. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 25-year-old Maxwell Wimmer of 1063 Laurel Boulevard who resisted arrest by jumping into the lagoon behind the residence and swimming away. Maxwell Wimmer was located hiding in tall grass on a vacant lot down the street from the residence. Maxwell Wimmer refused to cooperate with Officer Andrew Slota and indicated that he was not going to peacefully submit to the arrest. Officer Andrew Slota properly utilized his pepper spray on the suspect in order to effect the arrest without physical violence. Maxwell Wimmer submitted to the arrest and was handcuffed without further incident. Maxwell Wimmer was then transported to Lacey Police Headquarters where he was processed and then transported to Ocean County Correctional Facility in default of $5,000 bail.

  • Warrant Arrest – On Thursday, August 7, 2014, at 11:30 a.m., Lieutenant Michael DiBella conducted a motor vehicle stop in the area of Carr Street and Steuben Avenue after he observed a passenger hanging out of the passenger window. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 39-year-old Donnie F. Meyers of 3010 Benson Street, Apt B in Camden, NJ, on a $156 Manalapan Township Municipal Court traffic warrant. Donnie Meyers was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where he was processed and released R.O.R. by the Manalapan Township Municipal Court Clerk pending a future court date.

  • Warrant Arrest – On Wednesday, August 6, 2014, at 10:09 p.m., Officer Noah Schaffer conducted a motor vehicle stop of a blue, 2005, Chevy Malibu for making an improper left turn into the Wawa parking lot, located at 800 Lacey Road in Forked River. The driver of the vehicle was identified as 54-year-old Bonnie F. Generally of South Lakeside Drive in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of Bonnie Generally on a $500 Lacey Township Municipal Court criminal warrant and a $350 Toms River Municipal Court traffic warrant. Bonnie Generally was also operating an uninsured and unregistered vehicle with a suspended driver’s license. The vehicle was impounded due to it being unregistered and uninsured. Bonnie Generally was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where she was processed and issued motor vehicle summonses for improper turn, driving while suspended, operating an uninsured vehicle, and operating a vehicle with an expired registration. Bonnie Generally was unable to post bail and was subsequently transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility.

  • Theft from a Vehicle – Wednesday, August 6, 2014, at 9:41 p.m., Officer Andrew Slota responded to 1229 Kennebec Road for a report of a theft from a motor vehicle. The victim reported that he heard a noise outside of his residence and upon checking to see what it was, he observed two male juveniles (approximately 12 years of age) near his ice cream truck. The victim observed that each juvenile was holding multiple items from his truck including, plastic-ware, potato chips, and candy. The victim then confronted the juveniles who subsequently turned over the items to him. The juveniles then fled the area on foot.

  • Theft from a Vehicle – Wednesday, August 6, 2014, at 8:01 p.m., Officer Andrew Slota responded to Shady Brook Lane in Forked River for a theft from a motor vehicle. The victim reported that between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on August 6, 2014, an unknown person or persons entered his unlocked, 2004, Ford Expedition and stole a pink iPod valued at $200 and a silver and gold Rolex watch with an oyster wrist band valued at $7,000. The victim reported that the vehicle was parked in front of the residence, and he was working inside at the time of the incident.

  • Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer – On Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at 6:52 p.m. Officer Michael Verwey and Officer George Resetar responded to Lacey Powersports, 416 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor, in reference to an intoxicated and disorderly female. The business owner reported that a highly intoxicated female trespassed onto his property and was refusing to leave. The suspect, later identified as 48-year-old Evelyn Riccardi of Spinnaker Avenue in Manahawkin, was very aggressive towards the business owner and officers. Evelyn Riccardi was cursing very loudly and refused to cooperate with officers. Evelyn Riccardi was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct, obstructing the administration of law, and resisting arrest. She was transported to Lacey Police Headquarters where she assaulted Officer Michael Verwey by kicking him in the leg. Evelyn Riccardi was then transported to Ocean County jail in default of $20,000 bail.

  • MVA, Theft, and Abandonment of a Toxic Pollutant (Arrests) – On Sunday, August 10, 2014, at 10:41 p.m., the Lacey Township Police Department received a report of a motor vehicle accident on West Lacey Road near Aspen Road. Upon arrival of officers, they discovered that the vehicle was no longer in the area, but a large area of the roadway was coated with diesel fuel. The officers located the crash site into the woods along West Lacey Road where they found five large (55 gallon) plastic containers in the woods at the crash site. The contents of one of the containers had completely leaked into the wooded area. The other four containers remained sealed. A five mile stretch of Lacey Road was immediately shut down and the Berkeley Hazmat Unit along with the Bamber Lake Fire Company responded to the scene.

    The Lacey Township Police Department secured the crime scene and the roadway was open to traffic at 2:20 a.m. on Monday, August 11, 2014. The Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU) of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department responded to photograph the scene. The NJDEP responded to the scene midday on Monday, August 11, 2014, and clean up efforts continued through 10:15 p.m. on Monday, August 11, 2014. Officer Robert Flynn and Officer Jeffrey Slota of the Lacey Township Police Department were assigned the follow-up investigation with the assistance of Detective Thomas Haskell Jr. of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

    On Monday morning, August 11, 2014, Officer Robert Flynn and Officer Jeffrey Slota conducted a search of the area for the vehicle involved in the collision. Both officers located a damaged 2001, Jeep Cherokee and a trailer at 2422 Capshaw Road in the Bamber Lake section of Forked River which investigation linked to the transport of the 55 gallon containers and the accident. The officers seized both the Jeep and the trailer as criminal evidence.

    The vehicle, owned by 26-year-old Shannon Smith of Saltspray Drive in Forked River, ultimately led to the identification of 24-year-old Nico T. Morgan as the driver of the vehicle. Within hours after officers seized the Jeep, the officers received word from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office that an attorney representing Nico T. Morgan contacted their office regarding the accident. On Tuesday, August 12, 2014, Officer Robert Flynn prepared a criminal complaint for Nico T. Morgan for the 2nd Degree charge of Abandonment of a Toxic Pollutant. Bail was set on that charge at $15,000.

    While continuing the investigation on Tuesday, August 12, 2014, Officer Robert Flynn and Officer Jeffrey Slota determined that 366 gallons of diesel fuel was stolen from the Brick Wall property of the Hesse Company. The officers determined that 25-year-old Paul R. Townsend Jr., an employee on the property of Brick Wall, conspired with Nico T. Morgan to facilitate the theft of the “on road” diesel fuel. Investigation revealed that 7 containers were allegedly filled by Nico Morgan with a total of 366 gallons of fuel and removed from the property. The total value of the fuel is $1,262. The Jeep Cherokee, along with the trailer holding the seven containers of diesel fuel, was only able to travel several hundred yards east on West Lacey Road before losing control and crashing into the woods. As much as 110 gallons of diesel fuel is believed to have spilled during the incident.

    Investigation further revealed that Nico T. Morgan fled the scene in the Jeep Cherokee after being pulled from the woods after calling upon the assistance of Paul R. Townsend Jr. of Forked River. The Jeep traveled from the scene on only three wheels, as one wheel was dislodged and left in the roadway as a result of the collision.

    Based on the discovery of the theft of the 366 gallons of diesel fuel, additional charges were filed in this incident.

    Officer Robert Flynn charged Nico T. Morgan with the theft of $1,262 worth of diesel fuel and charged Paul R. Townsend Jr. with conspiracy to commit theft of $1,262 worth of diesel fuel. Nico Morgan, through his attorney, turned himself in at police headquarters on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 12, 2014. Nico Morgan was processed and released after posting a bond for $40,000 combined bail. Officer Robert Flynn prepared a criminal summons for Paul R. Townsend Jr. regarding the conspiracy to commit theft charge.

    Officer Jeffrey Slota completed the accident investigation which included the issuance of motor vehicle summonses charging Nico T. Morgan with Leaving an Injurious Substance in the Roadway, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Failure to Report an Accident, Reckless Driving, and several other related offenses.