Weekly Police Blotter – Press Release
January 20th thru 26th, 2015
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Unlawful Entry (Burglary) & Assault (Arrest) – On Monday, January 26, 2015, at 9:55 p.m., Officer Andrew Slota responded to 1225 Gemini Court Apt. – B in Forked River for a report of the unlawful entry of a home and an assault. The resident reported that 19-year-old Edward G. Martin of Buckhorn Lake Court in Little Egg Harbor entered her home without permission and then assaulted 18-year-old Zachery Hartsgrove, who was inside the residence. The victim suffered injury to his hands and abdomen as a result of the assault. The assailant left the scene prior to the police department being notified. A warrant for the arrest of Edward G. Martin has been issued for the 2nd Degree charge of Burglary due to the unlawful entry into the home. Bail is set at $75,000 for the Burglary charge. Edward G. Martin was arrested on the warrant by the Little Egg Harbor Police Department on Wednesday, January 28, 2015, and lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility in default of the bail.
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Theft – On Monday, January 26, 2015, at 9:37 a.m., Officer Noah Schaffer responded to Caruso and Martin Asphalt, 719 Old Shore Road in Forked River, for a report of a theft. An employee reported that an unknown person or persons stole a hydraulic snow plow pump off of one of the work trucks while it was parked at the business. The theft occurred between 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 25, 2015 and 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 26, 2015. The pump is described as a Meyers E-60 plow valued at $1,800.
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DUI (Arrest) – On Saturday, January 24, 2015, at 11:55 p.m., Officer Michael Verwey and Officer Patrick Watkins responded to 337 Yorktown Drive in Forked River for a report of a hit and run motor vehicle collision. The caller reported that a vehicle drove over his lawn, struck the front steps of the residence, and then fled the scene. Officer John McKee located the vehicle parked in front of 904 Capstan Drive in the Forked River section of the township. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 23-year-old Alexander Ferenc of Capstan Drive in Forked River for DUI. The vehicle was towed by Midnight Towing pursuant to John’s Law. Alexander Ferenc was charged on motor vehicle summonses with DUI, Reckless Driving, Failure to Maintain Lane, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and Failure to Report an Accident.
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Warrant (Arrest) – On Friday, January 23, 2015, at 8:14 p.m., Officer Scott Keefe conducted a motor vehicle stop of a vehicle that failed to make a complete stop at a stop sign. Further investigation led to the arrest of the driver, 27-year-old Jessica M. Hunter of Hazelton Avenue in Lanoka Harbor on an outstanding Jersey City Municipal Court traffic warrant in the amount of $100. She was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters, processed, and then released after posting the full bail. Jessica Hunter was issued a traffic summons for Failure to Stop for a Stop Sign.
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Shoplifting (Arrest) – On Friday, January 23, 2015, at 2:48 p.m., Officer Michael Hein responded to Walmart located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor for a report of a an adult male shoplifter in custody. An Asset Protection Associate reported that he observed a male subject place merchandise into his pockets and then attempted to leave the store without paying for the concealed items. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 18-year-old Jeffrey T. Portizo of Dockage Road in Bayville for Shoplifting. Jeffrey Portizo initially provided a false name and date of birth to Officer Hein. Jeffrey Portizo was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters, processed, and served with a criminal summons for Providing False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer as well as being charged with Shoplifting.
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Theft from a Vehicle – On Friday, January 23, 2015, at 11:09 a.m., Officer Darrell Nick and Officer Christopher Meyler responded to the 900 Block of Kearny Avenue in Forked River for a report of a theft from a motor vehicle. Edward Hans and Lori Hans reported that between 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2015 and 9:00 a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2015 an unknown person or persons entered a and stole a TomTom GPS, loose change, 4 Oxycodone prescription pills, and 70 Percocet prescription pills. The total value of the stolen property is estimated at $315.
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Criminal Mischief – On Thursday, January 22, 2015, at 1:34 p.m. Officer Keith Pearce responded to the Home Depot parking lot located at 244 Route 9 North in Forked River for a report of damage to a vehicle. The vehicle owner reported that he had parked his Ford Van in the Home Depot parking lot on Tuesday, January 20, 2015, because it was overheating. When he returned to the vehicle on Thursday, January 22, 2015 he discovered that an unknown person or persons had smashed out the rear window with a landscape rock. The damage is estimated at $200.
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Shoplifting (Arrest) – On Thursday, January 22, 2015, at 1:02 p.m., Officer Daniel Ricciardella responded to Walmart located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor for a report of an adult male shoplifter in custody. An Asset Protection Associate reported that he had observed a male subject take several plastic Walmart bags out of his pants and place $366 worth of merchandise in the bags and then attempted to leave the store without paying for the merchandise. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 24-year-old Michael Sokalski of Attison Avenue in South Toms River for Shoplifting. He was transported to police headquarters, processed, and served with a criminal summons for Shoplifting.
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Assault on a Police Officer (Arrest) – On Wednesday, January 21, 2015, at 6:21 p.m., Officer John McKee responded to 1411 Earie Way to assist another agency with a well-being check of 47-year-old Kimberly Kocses of 1411 Earie Way in Forked River. During the investigation, Kimberly Kocses became aggressive and pushed Officer McKee. Officer McKee then placed Kimberly Kocses under arrest. Kimberly Kocses was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters, processed, and charged on a criminal summons with for the assault on a police officer (Aggravated Assault).
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Warrant and Hindering Apprehension (Arrests) – On Wednesday, January 21, 2015, Officer Anthony Sarno and Officer Scott Keefe responded to Room #5 of the Lacey Inn, located at 229 Route 9 South in Forked River, in an attempt to locate and serve warrants on 32-year-old Jessica Walters of 229 Route 9 South in Forked River, NJ. Jessica Walters was located at the residence and was placed under arrest on an Ocean County Sheriffs Department no-bail warrant, a $500 Lacey Township Municipal Court criminal warrant, and a $500 Lacey Township Municipal Court traffic warrant. Jessica Walters was transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility in default of bail. Another occupant of Room #5, 28-year-old Jesse Zullo of Elwood Street in Forked River was charged with hindering the apprehension of another for attempting to conceal Jessica Walters’ actual location from the officers.
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Warrant (Arrest) – On Wednesday, January 21, 2015, at 11:09 a.m., Officer Evan Androcy stopped a motor vehicle near the intersection of Pinta Way and Yorktown Drive upon learning that 30-year-old Brian Cleary of Anchor Road in Barnegat had a suspended driver’s license and an outstanding Wall Township Municipal Court traffic warrant in the amount of $500. Further investigation determined that the vehicle was not insured. Accurate towing responded to the scene and impounded the vehicle for no insurance. Brian Cleary was arrested and transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where he was processed and then turned over to the custody of the Wall Township Police Department. Brian Cleary was issued traffic summonses for Driving While Suspended and Uninsured Motorist.
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Shoplifting (Arrest) – On Tuesday, January 20, 2015, at 3:23 p.m., Officer Daniel Ricciardella responded to Walmart located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor for a report of an adult male shoplifter in custody in reference to shoplifting. An Asset Protection Associate reported that he had observed a male subject take $58.45 worth of merchandise out of its packaging and place the merchandise into his pockets. The Asset Protection Associate reported that the subject paid for several items, but not the items that he concealed in his pockets. The subject was then stopped by the Asset Protection Associate as he left the store. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of a 20-year-old xxxx of Barnegat, NJ for shoplifting. He was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters, processed, and charged on a criminal summons with Shoplifting.
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False Reports (Arrest) – Shortly after midnight, Monday, January 19, 2015, Lacey Police responded to a one-car motor vehicle accident on Lacey Road. The accident was reported by a passing motorist traveling west of the Garden State Parkway when they observed the vehicle off the road and into the adjacent woods. Upon arrival at the accident, officers discovered that the vehicle, a 1998, Mercury Marquis, was unoccupied. An extensive search of the wooded area for the registered owner, 45-year-old Dawn Cornelius, proved unsuccessful nor could she be located at her Bamber Lakes residence. The following morning, Dawn Cornelius contacted Lacey Police and reported her vehicle stolen. Cornelius initially indicated that she spent the night at a friend’s home in Toms River and discovered her vehicle missing when she returned to her residence in Lacey. Further investigation by detectives led to the arrest of Dawn Cornelius. Cornelius was charged with Filing a False Police Report, Failure to Maintain a Lane of Travel, Careless Driving, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and Failure to Report an Accident. Dawn Cornelius was released on her own recognizance pending a future Court appearance. Filing a False Report is punishable by fine and a prison sentence up to 18 months.