Weekly Police Blotter – Lacey Township Police Department – September 16th, 2014 thru 22nd, 2014

Weekly Police Blotter – Press Release

September 16^th, thru September 22^nd, 2014

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• DUI (Arrest) – On Monday, September 22, 2014, at 3:37 a.m., Officers Adam Ewart and John McKee responded to the area of Route 9 North and Haines Street in Lanoka Harbor for a report of a male subject driving away from Walmart who appeared to be intoxicated. A description of the vehicle and a license plate was provided. Officer Ewart soon located the vehicle traveling on Basin Road near Chestnut Drive in Lanoka Harbor and conducted a traffic stop. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 22-year-old Michael Araneo 2nd of Hazelton Avenue in Lanoka Harbor, for DUI. Michael Araneo 2nd was released after receiving traffic summons for DUI, Reckless driving, and Failure to Maintain Lane. The vehicle Michael Araneo 2nd was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.

• Shoplifting (Arrest) – On Sunday, September 21, 2014, at 9:00 p.m., Officers Scott Keefe and John McKee were dispatched to Walmart, located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor, for a male shoplifter. Loss prevention advised that the accused had entered a vehicle and headed toward Haines Street. A description of the vehicle along with a partial license plate was provided. Lieutenant Michael DiBella observed the vehicle as it turned onto Haines Street going eastbound. Lieutenant DiBella followed the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on Route 9 near Liberty Way in Lanoka Harbor. Officers Keefe and McKee arrived on scene. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 46-year-old Anthony M. Mascola of Morris Boulevard in Bayville for shoplifting approximately $165 worth of merchandise from Walmart. Anthony Mascola was transported to police headquarters and processed. He was released after receiving a criminal summons for Shoplifting.

• Simple Assault and Underage Consumption of Alcohol (Formal Charges) – On Sunday, September 21, 2014, at 2:16 a.m., Officer Scott Keefe responded to the 100 block of Heatherington Court in Lanoka Harbor for a dispute. Investigation at the scene led to 19-year-old Dominique R. Deservio of Lanoka Harbor being served with a summons for Underage Consumption of Alcohol as well as a summons for Simple Assault. Additionally, 19-year-old Brett Miniaci of Forked River was served with a summons for Underage Consumption of Alcohol.

• DUI (Arrest) – On Saturday, September 20, at 6:13 p.m., Sergeant Paul Sullivan responded to the area of Beach Boulevard in reference to a report of an intoxicated female driver leaving a residence with a child in the vehicle. Sergeant Sullivan located the suspect vehicle traveling north on Route 9 near the intersection of Clearwater Drive in Forked River. Sergeant Sullivan conducted a traffic stop in the parking lot behind Caffrey’s Steak House located at 440 Route 9 South in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 30-year-old Emily Rosario of Spruce Drive in Manchester, NJ, for DUI and for DUI with a Minor in the Vehicle. Emily Rosario was transported to Police Headquarters and processed. She was released after receiving traffic summonses for DUI, DUI with a Minor in the Vehicle, Refusal to Submit to Breath Testing, Reckless driving, and Failure to Maintain Lane. The vehicle she was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.

• Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, September 20, 2014, at 1:14 p.m., Sergeant Paul Sullivan Jr. conducted a traffic stop near the 400 block of Route 9 South in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, 56-year-old Jeffrey Benner of Bowsprit Point in Lanoka Harbor, on two (2) outstanding warrants. Warrant number one (1) was issued from the Lacey Township Municipal Court in the amount of $1,000, and warrant number two (2) was issued from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department in the amount of $29,000. Jeffrey Benner was transported to police headquarters and processed. He was later released after posting bail on the Lacey Township warrant. In addition, he was released ROR by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department. Jeffrey Benner received a traffic summons for Driving with a Suspended Driver’s License.

• Noise Disturbance (Formal Charge) – On Saturday, September 20, 2014, at 12:40 a.m., Officers Adam Ewart and John McKee responded to the 1000 block of Laurel Boulevard in Lanoka Harbor for a loud music complaint. Upon arrival officers heard the loud music and met with 26-year-old Michael Giordano. Michael Giordano was issued a Special Form of Complaint and Summons for the Noise Disturbance.

• Fireworks (Formal Charge) – On Saturday, September 20, 2014, at 12:20 a.m., Officer Dimitri Tsarnas responded to the 300 block of Beach Boulevard in Forked River for a report of possible gun shots in the area. An investigation at the scene determined that there were no gun shots, however, fireworks were being discharged. As a result, 25–year-old Franklin Bidder of Beach Boulevard was issued a summons for discharging fireworks.

• Theft (Residence) – On Friday, September 19, 2014, at 3:31 p.m., Officer Michael Verwey responded to the 300 block of Hemlock Drive in Lanoka Harbor for a theft report. The victim reported that during the overnight hours of Thursday, September 18, 2014, into Friday, September 19, 2014, an unknown person or persons stole a blue Schwinn bicycle valued at $100 from the front yard of the residence.

• Theft – On Friday, September 19, 2014, at 9:02 a.m., Regina Discenza responded to police headquarters to make a theft report. Regina Discenza reported that four of her campaign signs for Lacey Township School Board had been stolen from various locations within Lacey Township. One sign was reportedly stolen from the intersection of Station Drive and Oak Street, one sign was reportedly stolen from the intersection of Garden State Parkway South and Lacey Road, and two signs were reportedly stolen from the intersection of Colgate Avenue and Western Boulevard. The reported thefts occurred at various times and dates between Sunday, September 7, 2014 and Wednesday, September 17, 2014. The signs were valued at $11.

• Drug Possession (Arrest) – On Thursday, September 18, 2014, detectives from Lacey Township and Toms River conducted a cooperative investigation which led to the arrests of two Forked River residents. The investigation began while detectives searched for Jeremy Molloy, 24, after a no-bail warrant was issued by the New Jersey State Parole Board. The warrant was issued after Molloy failed to conform to Parole standards. Jeremy Molloy was seen in the parking lot of Howard Johnson’s in Toms River while accompanied by a second Forked River resident, Kenneth Novak, 25. After the two departed, Lacey detectives observed a suspicious meeting between Novak and another subject on Clearwater Drive in Forked River. A traffic stop was conducted and drug paraphernalia was observed leading to Kenneth Novak’s arrest. Detectives discovered 94 bags containing heroin and a hypodermic syringe. Toms River detectives had conducted a separate traffic stop of a vehicle as it left the hotel and arrested Molloy on the outstanding warrant. During a search of the vehicle and the hotel room, detectives discovered another 61 bags containing heroin as well as some Oxycodone. Jeremy Molloy was charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Oxycodone, and Intent to Distribute Heroin. He was incarcerated at the Ocean County Correctional Facility with no opportunity to post bail. Kenneth Novak was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Remaining in a Public Place with Purpose of Selling a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe, Possession of Heroin, and Intent to Distribute Heroin. Novak was also incarcerated in default of bail set at $75,000.

• Theft – On Thursday, September 18, 2014, at 6:58 p.m., Officer Anthony Sarno responded police headquarters for a theft report. The victim reported that over the past few weeks, several pieces of jewelry and gold bars had been stolen from his residence located on the 200 block of Quail Lane North in Lanoka Harbor. The victim stated that there was no signs of forced entry. Names of possible suspects were provided and the investigation is continuing. The theft is estimated at $6,000.

• Criminal Mischief (Township Property) – On Thursday, September 18, 2014, at 3:36 p.m., Special Officer Russell Moller located graffiti on a township sign posted at the intersection of Bullard Avenue and Jay Street in Forked River. The Department of Public Works was contacted to remove the graffiti. The estimated cost to remove the graffiti is $25.

• Criminal Mischief (Township Property) – On Thursday, September 18, 2014, at 2:30 p.m., Special Officer Russell Moller was on patrol and observed graffiti spray painted on the Second Lake bath house located at 5000 Lakeside Drive in Forked River. Several different spray paint colors were utilized to spray the writings and symbols on the building. The Lacey Township Department of Public Works was contacted to clean off the graffiti. The cost of removal is estimated at $200.

• Theft & Criminal Mischief – On Thursday, September 18, 2014, at 7:36 a.m., Officer Scott Anderson responded to Lacey Diagnostics Imaging, 833 Lacey Road, Forked River, in reference to smoke coming from one of the air conditioning units behind the building. Officer Anderson determined that unknown persons cut the copper coils out of the air conditioning condensing unit. The Forked River Fire Department responded and assisted at the scene. The coils were cut between 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 17, 2014 and 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 18, 2014. The damage and theft are estimated at $1,000.

• Silver Alert – On Thursday, September 18, 2014, a 73-year-old Lacey Township resident who reportedly suffers from dementia was reported missing by family members. The man was reported missing at 9:30 a.m. and located during the late afternoon hours near Hamilton Township on Route 195 by the New Jersey State Police.

• Traffic Accident (Fatal) – On Thursday, September 18, 2014, at 6:02 a.m., Officers George Resetar and Michael Eden responded to Route 539 mile marker 16 for a two-car head-on motor vehicle accident. The Barnegat Police Department also responded. The accident was determined to be a fatal crash. The Lacey Township Police Department’s Fatal Accident Support Team, along with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Criminalistics Investigation Unit responded. The deceased was identified as 54-year-old Suzanne Kessler of Whiting, New Jersey. Suzanne Kessler was traveling in the southbound lane of Route 539 when her Chevy Cavalier was struck by a Cadillac Deville being operated by 27-year-old Kenneth Busardo of Barnegat, NJ. Kenneth Busardo was traveling northbound on Route 539 when his car drifted into the soundbound lane striking Suzanne Kessler’s vehicle. Kenneth Busardo received minor injuries in the crash and refused medical treatment. Kenneth Busardo was transported to Southern Ocean County Hospital by investigating officers to have his blood drawn for analysis. There were no other occupants in either vehicle. No charges have been filed at this time. The Barnegat Township, Stafford Township, and Manchester Township Fire Departments, along with the Barnegat Township First Aid Squad, and Monoc Paramedics responded to the scene. The accident is currently under investigation.

• Warrant Arrest – On Tuesday, September 16, 2014, at 8:25 p.m., Sergeant Ronald Buxton and Officer George Resetar responded to the 300 block of Enterprise Drive in Forked River to serve 50-year-old Patrick Applegate with a $15,000 Lacey Township Warrant for operating a motor vehicle during a period of suspension for driving while intoxicated. Patrick Applegate was located at that residence and placed under arrest. He was transported to police headquarters and processed. Patrick Applegate was later lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility in default of bail.

• Fraud – On Tuesday, September 16, 2014, at 12:24 p.m., Officer Michael Hein responded to PNC Bank located at 702 Lacey Road in Forked River in reference to fraud. The assistant branch manager reported that an unknown person or persons was using “slugs” in the coin counting machine located in the lobby of the bank. The assistant branch manager reported that the bank was defrauded of approximately $1,800 by the use of the “slugs.” The machine has been recalibrated to correct the error.