Police-Blotter-1

Weekly Police Blotter

July 1st thru July 7th, 2015

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  • Motor Vehicle Accident (Fatal) – Sergeant Robert Flynn, Officer Jeffrey Slota, and Officer Jason Lee  responded to Route 539 for a report of a fatal motor vehicle accident involving an additional victim with a significant head injury. Barnegat Township Police Department officers and emergency service personnel were on scene prior to the arrival of Lacey Township personnel. Preliminary investigation revealed that a vehicle driven by 76-year-old Joseph Matthews of Robbinsville crossed the center line and was struck head on by a Borough of Surf City garbage truck operated by 28-year-old Brian Miller of Manahawkin. According to witnesses, an unknown aggressive driver was attempting to pass several vehicles, including the victim, and may be responsible for the resultant crash. The unknown vehicle fled the scene. Nancy Matthews, the wife of Joseph Matthews, was flown to Jersey Shore Trauma Center with head injuries. Officer Michael Verwey and Officer Adam Ewart of the Lacey Township Police Department Accident Response Team responded to the scene to work with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ocean County Criminal Investigation Unit in the follow-up investigation. Berkeley Township Hazmat responded due to a diesel fuel spill from a ruptured fuel tank on the garbage truck.

  • Warrant Arrest and Drug Possession – On Monday, July 6, 2015, at 9:07 p.m., Officer Charles May and Officer Adam Ewart observed 26-year-old Thomas J. Giberson 2nd in the parking lot of Surf Taco, 44 Manchester Avenue in Forked River. The officers were aware that the Thomas Giberson, 2nd of Bowline Drive in Barnegat, NJ had an outstanding no bail Ocean County Sheriff’s Department warrant for violation of parole. Thomas J. Giberson 2nd was arrested and transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where he was processed and then turned over to the custody of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department. Thomas Giberson 2nd was found to be in possession of four wax folds of Heroin and was charged with Possession of Heroin before being turned over to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.

  • Shoplifting (Arrest) – On Monday, July 6, 2015, at 10:06 p.m., Officer Patrick Watkins responded to Walmart, located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor, for a report of a shoplifter in custody. The loss prevention employee reported that the suspect, identified as 26-year-old Ashlie L. Davis of Tiller Avenue in Beachwood, NJ, concealed $156.45 worth of merchandise in her purse and attempted to leave the store without paying for the merchandise. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of Ashlie Davis for shoplifting. Ashlie Davis also had an outstanding Ocean County Sheriff’s Department warrant in the amount of $2,000 and an outstanding Beachwood Borough Municipal Court in the amount of $500. Davis was charged on a criminal warrant with Shoplifting and transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility.

  • Theft – On Monday, July 6, 2015, at 3:30 p.m., Officer Jeffrey Slota responded to a Taylor Lane residence in Forked River for a report of theft. The resident reported that on July 5, 2015, an unknown person or persons entered his car and stole a prescription pill bottle containing approximately 64 Oxycontin pills. The value of the stolen merchandise is estimated at $50.

  • DUI (Arrest) – On Monday, July 6, 2015, at 5:08 p.m., Officer Elton Copes responded to McDonald’s, located at 404 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor, for a report of an impaired female. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 25-year-old Gabriella Terrill of Nantucket Road in Forked River, for DUI. She was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters, processed, and charged on motor vehicle summonses with DUI and Reckless Driving.

  • DUI (Arrest) – On Monday, July 6, 2015, at 4:32 p.m., Officer Noah Schaffer responded to the area of Beach Boulevard in Forked River in reference to a motor vehicle that struck landscaping pilings and then fled the scene. Witnesses reported that the suspect vehicle pulled into the driveway of a Tamiami Road residence in Forked River. Officer Schaffer located the vehicle and driver at that residence. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 41-year-old Shana Cronan of Tamiami Road in Forked River, for DUI. Shana Cronan was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters, processed, and 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.

  • Motor Vehicle Accident (Fatal) – On Sunday, July 5th, 2015, at approximately 3:25 a.m., Officer Andrew Slota began a response to a disturbance call along the front fence of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station which was called in by power plant security. Officer Andrew Slota was traveling east on Lacey Road approaching the intersection of Deerhead Lake Drive when a pedestrian, 25-year-old Neil Van de Putte of Toms River, NJ, entered the roadway to cross Lacey Road from the south side over to the north side. Officer Andrew Slota attempted to make an evasive maneuver prior to striking Neil Van de Putte which resulted in the patrol vehicle striking a utility pole. Neil Van de Putte was pronounced dead at the scene by Dr. Konomos from Newark Beth Israel at 3:47 a.m., and Officer Slota was transported to Community Medical Center for treatment of the injuries sustained in the collision. Due to the Lacey Township police officer being involved in the accident, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes/Fatal Accident Investigation Unit was joined by Toms River Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI in investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident. Lacey Township detectives and officers are not involved in the continuing investigation; therefore, all media releases related to the accident will be handled by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

  • MVA (Medical Emergency – Death) – On Saturday, July 4, 2015, at 8:43 p.m., Officer Andrew Slota, Officer Scott Anderson, and Sergeant Ronald Buxton responded to Lake Barnegat Drive North near the intersection of Lacey Road for a report of a driver that had passed out behind the wheel and drove off the roadway. Upon arrival, the officers observed that the driver was unconscious and had driven up the curb near the “Heads or Nails” salon. Officers determined that the driver, identified as 82-year-old man from Manahawkin, NJ, had suffered a medical episode and was not breathing. Officers performed CPR and with the assistance of Lacey Township Emergency Medical Services. The patient was transported to Community Medical Center, but later passed away while in the hospital.

  • Unattended Death – On Saturday, July 4, 2015, at 6:40 p.m., Officer Andrew Slota and Officer Elton Copes responded to a Thropp Road address in reference to an unresponsive 57-year-old male. The man reportedly indicated to his friends earlier in the day that he was not feeling well and was later found unresponsive in bed. As per normal protocol for an unattended death, Detective Robert Surtees was summoned to the scene along with the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigations Unit and a representative from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

  • Motor Vehicle Accident – On Saturday, July 4, 2015, at 5:39 p.m., Officer Scott Anderson and Officer Michael Hein responded to Mile Marker 19 on Route 539 in Lacey Township for a report of a motor vehicle accident with injuries. Preliminary investigation determined that 24-year-old Carlos Mercado of Paterson, NJ was traveling northbound on Route 539 in a Volkswagen Gulf when he attempted to pass several cars by entering into the southbound lane. As the driver was attempting to pass the other vehicles, he struck a Chevy Trailblazer vehicle head-on, which was traveling southbound on Route 539. The driver and front seat passenger, 26-year-old Yessenia Torres of Paterson, NJ were flown separately to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ as result of sustaining multiple internal injuries. A two-year-old child in the back of that vehicle was taken by ambulance to Jersey Shore University Medical Center as a precautionary measure. The driver, 46-year-old Vincent E. Mattina of Jackson, NJ, of the Chevy Trailblazer was uninjured. The front seat passenger of that vehicle, 54-year-old Jean Mattina of Jackson, NJ, and two 10-year-old passengers, who were seated in the rear seats, suffered minor injuries and were all transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Members of the Lacey Township Accident Response Team responded to the scene to investigate. The Manchester Township Police Department, Forked River Fire Department, Bamber Lakes Fire Department, Whiting Fire Department, and Barnegat Township Fire Department assisted at the scene. Lacey Township EMS, Lanoka Harbor EMS, Quality EMS, Monoc EMS, and the Monoc Paramedics provide medical care to the patients. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI also assisted.

  • DUI (Arrest) – On Saturday, July 4, 2015, at 12:10 a.m., Officer Jason Lee conducted a motor vehicle on Route 9 near Beach Boulevard. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 40-year-old Lori Rinkowski of Ashwood Drive in Brick, NJ, for DUI. Lori Rinkowski was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters, processed, and charged on motor vehicle summonses with DUI, Refusal to Submit Breath Samples, Reckless Driving, and Failure to Maintain Lane.

  • Criminal Mischief – On Friday, July 3, 2015, at 2:07 p.m., Officer Darrell Nick responded to Brickwall Corporation, located at 2215 Lacey Road in Forked River, NJ, for a report of criminal mischief. An employee reported that an unknown person or persons damaged windows of the sand plant building on the Atlantic Gravel portion of the property. The damage is estimated at $3,000.

  • Motor Vehicle Accident – On Thursday, July 2, 2015, at 8:26 p.m., Officer John Simonson, Officer Julie Barcalow, and Sergeant Paul Sullivan responded to the area of Fairview Lane near the intersection of Jennifer Lane in the Forked River Beach section of the township in reference to a car versus utility pole motor vehicle crash. The force of the collision knocked two utility poles and the power lines to the ground causing significant disruption to electric and phone service in the area. The 17-year-old male driver lost control of the vehicle as he was traveling down Fairview Lane and struck a utility pole. The driver and his two passengers were not injured as a result of the collision.

  • Motor Vehicle Accident – On Thursday, July 2, 2015, at 8:26 p.m., Officer John Simonson responded to Beach Plaza, 729 Route 9 South, Forked River, NJ, for a report of a one car motor vehicle collision. Upon arrival, officers observed that a 2004 Lincoln Town Car had crashed into the front of the “Bark Avenue Pet Grooming” storefront window. The 71-year-old female driver was the only occupant and was not injured.

  • Warrant Arrest – On Thursday, July 2, 2015, at 1:20 a.m., Officer Anthony Sarno observed 20-year-old George Theisz 3rd of Station Drive in Forked River, driving down Lane Place in the Forked River section of the township. Officer Sarno was aware that George Theisz 3rd had an active Ocean Township Municipal Court warrant in the amount of $500. George Theisz 3rd was placed under arrest, transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters, processed, and released after posting bail.

  • DUI (Arrest) – On Tuesday, June 30, 2015, at 7:36 p.m., Officer Scott Keefe observed a vehicle speeding on Route 9 in the Forked River section of the township. Officer Keefe conducted a motor vehicle stop the vehicle on Route 9 North near the intersection of Nautilus Boulevard. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 47-year-old William P. Snyder of Cable Avenue in Beachwood, NJ, for DUI. William Snyder was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters, processed, and charged on motor vehicle summonses with DUI, Refusal to Submit Breath Samples, Reckless Driving, and Speeding. The vehicle was impounded by Jersey Shore Towing pursuant to John’s Law.

  • DUI (Arrest) – On Wednesday, July 1, 2015, at 12:35 a.m., Officer Patrick Watkins and Officer Michael Verwey responded to the area of Route 9 South in the Forked River Section of the township in reference to a complaint of and aggressive driver. Officer Michael Verwey located the vehicle and stopped the vehicle on Route 9 near the intersection of Lakeside Drive South. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 42-year-old Alan J. Nielson of Gable Circle, Manchester, NJ, for DUI. Alan Nielson was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters, processed, and charged on motor vehicle summonses with DUI, Reckless Driving, and Failure to Maintain Lane.