• • Shoplifting – On Thursday, January 3, 2019, at 1:45 p.m., Officer Darrell Nick responded to the Walmart, located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor for a shoplifting. Investigation led to the arrest of 25-year-old Samantha V. Binford of Seaside Heights, NJ, for shoplifting merchandise valued at $52.77. She was transported to police headquarters and processed. Samantha V. Binford was charged on a complaint summons with shoplifting and released.
    • Theft – On Thursday, January 3, 2019, at 10:51 a.m., Officer John McKee responded to a Lacey Township residence for a theft report. The complainant reported on December 27, 2018, he responded to his residence located on the 800 block of Dolan Street in Lanoka Harbor, and observed $4450.00 worth of property missing from a fenced in area. The property included but was not limited to aluminum siding, steel braces and pins, a cement mixer, a ladder, and various masonry tools.
    • Theft by Deception/Forgery Arrest – On Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at 3:19 p.m., Officer Daniel Ricciardella responded to the Lacey Shell Station, 922 Lacey Road in Forked River for a report of fraud/theft involving a counterfeit $100 bill. Officer Ricciardella met with an employee of Shell, who reported the $100.00 bill had been used to purchase fuel. The bill was found to be counterfeit. A vehicle description was provided to Officer Ricciardella, and he provided the vehicle description over the radio. At the same time, Officer Michael Hein responded to Home Depot, 244 Route 9 N for an unrelated call for service. While on scene at the Home Depot, Officer Hein observed the suspect vehicle and conducted a motor vehicle stop in the Home Depot parking lot. Officers Randolph Plis and Darrell Nick responded to assist Officer Hein with the motor vehicle stop. During the motor vehicle stop multiple reports of fraud/theft were received from Medicine to Go, 528 Lacey Road, the UPS Store and Hand and Stone, located in Lacey Mall, 344 Route 9 N, for counterfeit $100 bills being used to make purchases in the stores. Similar descriptions of the suspects as well as the vehicle description were provided. Investigation at the scene (Home Depot parking lot) yielded several other counterfeit $100.00 bills as well as proceeds from the other establishments. The four occupants were identified as; 19-year-old Omari J. Kiser of Central Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 23-year-old Khalil T. Montez of E 85th Street, Brooklyn, NY, 25-year-old Sharnon Henry of Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY and 26-year-old Quayshaun L. Mckinnonsmith of Lott Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. They were all arrested and all charged with Theft by Deception, Forgery, Conspiracy as well as Possession of CDS. The driver, Quayshaun L. Mckinnonsmith was charged with motor vehicle charges for careless driving as well as CDS in a motor vehicle. All were transferred to Ocean County Jail in accordance with bail reform. This investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information or knowledge is urged to contact the Lacey Township Police Department Detective Bureau at (609)693-6636 or through the Lacey Township Police web page at laceypd.org, Crime Tips.
    • Fraud – On Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at 10:57 a.m., Officer Randolph Plis responded to police headquarters for a fraud report. The complainant stated that she received an Amazon Visa credit card in the mail that was opened in her name by an unknown person(s). She immediately called the bank and cancelled the card. The bank advised her that they would freeze the credit card so no purchases could be made. The complainant was advised to call the major credit bureaus and monitor her credit.
    • Theft – On Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at 8:24 a.m., Officer Michael Hein responded to the 1400 block of Jay Street in Forked River for a theft. The complainant reported that between December 20, 2018 and January 2, 2019, an unknown person(s) stole two batteries from a flat bed tow truck parked in the driveway of the residence. The value of the batteries is estimated at $400.
    • Warrant Arrest – On Tuesday, January 1, 2019, at 6:48 p.m., Officers Dan Ricciardella and Michael Hein responded to the Main Street Laundromat, located on Route 9 South in Forked River after receiving a call for suspicious activity. The caller believed that a male and female were attempting to gain access to a vehicle. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 44 year-old Amy V. Haas of Forked River, on an outstanding Beachwood Municipal Court warrant in the amount of $750. Amy Haas was transported to police headquarters, processed, and released on her own recognizance.
    • Burglary and Theft (Residence) – On Tuesday, January 1, 2019, at 4:51 p.m., Officers Randolph Plis, Dan Ricciardella and Julie Barcalow responded to Hemlock Drive in Lanoka Harbor, for a reported burglary. The complainant reported that between Sunday afternoon, December 30, 2018 and Tuesday morning, January 1, 2019, an unknown person(s) forced entry into the residence and stole two surveillance cameras valued at $200, along with $300 in cash. The Lacey Township Police Detective Bureau is investigating.
    • DUI Arrest – On January 1, 2019, at 1:02 a.m., Officers Julie Barcalow, Scott Keefe, and Anthony Sarno responded to Route 9 and Beach Boulevard in Forked River for a hit and run motor vehicle crash. While responding, another motor vehicle crash was reported at Route 9 and Lacey Road; both involving a silver vehicle. Officer Martin Julian stopped the silver vehicle in the Walmart parking lot, located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 45-year-old Sean R. Whitley of Wood Drive in Brick, NJ, for DUI. He was transported to police headquarters and processed. Sean R. Whitley was released after receiving traffic summonses for DUI, Reckless Driving, Failure to Report an Accident and Leaving the Scene of an Accident. The vehicle he was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.
    • Motor Vehicle Crash (Bicyclist Struck) – On Monday, December 31, 2018, at 6:47 p.m., Officers Martin Julian and Julie Barcalow responded to Route 9 near the Lacey Amoco gas station in Forked River for a report of a bicyclist who was struck by a vehicle. The 38-year-old male bicyclist was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center for his injuries. The crash in under investigation.
    • Theft (Township Property) – On Monday, December 31, 2018, at 8:57 a.m., Officer Michael Hein was on patrol and observed that the street sign at the intersection of Conifer Drive and Fernwood Lane in Forked River had been stolen. The estimated value of the sign is $250.
    • Stolen Vehicle Recovered – On Sunday, December 30, 2018, a passerby reported an abandoned vehicle on a trail in the woods near Edge Avenue off West Lacey Road. The vehicle was confirmed to be the vehicle reported stolen from Taylor Lane in Forked River on December 27, 2018. Detective Adam Ewart, along with Crime Scene Investigation officers from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene. This incident remains under investigation
  • Theft – On Saturday, December 29, 2018, at 10:02 a.m., Officer Alan Abrecht responded to the 600 block of Elwood Street in Forked River, for a theft report. The homeowner stated that between 4:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on December 28, 2018, an unknown person(s) stole an ornamental flood light located in the front yard of the residence. The flood light is valued at $40.
  • Theft – On Friday, December 28, 2018, at 8:47 p.m., Officer Jesse Dalziel responded to the 500 block of Rosewood Drive in Lanoka Harbor for a theft report. The victim reported that between the evenings of December 27 and December 28, 2018, an unknown person(s) stole his Christmas Laser Light decoration from the front yard of his residence. The estimated value of the decoration is $35.