• Theft – On Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at 1:13 p.m. Officer Randolph Plis responded to police headquarters to take a report of theft. The complainant reported that a trailer was stolen from his property located on the 1700 block of Lakeside Drive South, between Monday, March 18, and Tuesday, March 19, 2019.   The total amount of the theft is estimated at $4,000. The incident remains under investigation.
  • Residential Burglary – On Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at 7:11 a.m., Officer Darrell Nick responded to the 1700 block of Lakeside Drive South in Forked River for a report of an attempted residential burglary. The complaint reported that sometime between 10:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19th, an unknown person(s) attempted to gain entry to the residence through a bedroom window on the side of the house. Nothing appeared to be missing from the home. The estimated cost to repair the damage to the window is $300.
  • Warrant Arrest – On Monday, March 18, 2019, at 9:33 p.m., at police headquarters, Officer Patrick Watkins arrested 34-year-old Lauren M. Keller of Oak Road, Lanoka Harbor, for two outstanding Cranford Township warrants in the amount of $500.    Lauren Keller was processed and released on her own recognizance.
  • Vehicle Fire – On Monday, March 18, 2019, at 12:09 p.m., Officer Randolph Plis responded to Immediate Care on Lacey Road in Forked River for a vehicle that was smoking in the parking lot. The driver of the vehicle was inside the medical building. Members of the Forked River Fire Department arrived on scene and extinguished the fire.
  • Motor Vehicle Stop/Warrant Arrest – On Sunday, March 17, 2019, at 10:23 p.m., Officer Anthony Sarno conducted a motor vehicle stop on Lakeside Drive South and Woodland Road in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the passenger, 34-year-old Michael Houseworth of Spruce Street, Bordenton, NJ, on an outstanding Pennsauken Municipal Court warrant in the amount of $1500 and a Pemberton Township Municipal Court warrant in the amount of $525. Michael Houseworth was transported to police headquarters. He was processed and released on his own recognizance.
  • Warrant Arrest – On Sunday, March 17, 2019, at 9:25 p.m., Officer Scott Keefe arrested 28-year-old Paul R. Clifton of Arlington Avenue, Forked River, on a no-bail Lacey Township Municipal Court warrant for simple assault. Paul Clifton was processed and transported to Ocean County Correctional Facility in accordance with bail reform.
  • CDS Arrest – On Sunday, March 17, 2019, at 9:13 p.m., Officer Michael Baldasari conducted a motor vehicle stop for careless driving near the parking lot of the Municipal Building (808 Lacey Road, Forked River). Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, 22-year-old Jacob W. Montgomery of Carver Street, Bayville, NJ for CDS. He was transported to police headquarters and processed.  Jacob Montgomery was charged on a criminal complaint summons with possession of CDS. He was also issued a motor vehicle summons for Careless Driving and  was released.
  • Traffic Accident – On Monday, March 18, 2019 at 9:05 a.m., Officers Dan Ricciardella and Michael Hein responded to the 300 block of North Main Street, Lanoka Harbor, for a report of a vehicle that crashed into a building. After the vehicle exited the car wash, the owner of the vehicle heard a loud collision. Investigation at the scene revealed that an employee drove the vehicle out of the car wash into the parking lot. The vehicle suddenly accelerated through the parking lot and struck the side of Christopher’s Auto Sales. A Lacey Township Building Department employee arrived and surveyed the damage. The building was deemed unsafe at the time of the inspection.
  • Criminal Mischief – On Sunday, March 17, 2019, at 1:07 p.m., Officers Dan Ricciardella and John Cate responded to a local business, North East Passage on Route 9 South in Forked River for an activated burglar alarm. A broken window was located on the side of the business. Three juveniles were seen leaving the area.  The juveniles were located and escorted to police headquarters where their parents were contacted. Nothing appeared to be missing from the business and no other damage was reported.  The business owner advised the officers that they did not wish to pursue complaints in the matter. The juveniles were released to their parents.
  • Gas Leak – On Sunday, March 17, 2019, at 11:57 a.m., Officers John McKee, John Simonson, and Sergeant Michael Eden responded to the 500 block of Holmes Avenue in Forked River for a report of a gas leak. The homeowner stated that her husband was installing a vinyl fence at their residence and while he was digging the posthole, he struck a gas line causing a leak. The Forked River Fire Department and the NJ Natural Gas Company responded to the scene and remediated the problem.
  • Brush Fire – On Saturday, March 16, 2019, at 2:19 p.m., Officer Scott Anderson responded to the area of JT’s Bagel Hut and Lacey Shell on Lacey Road in Forked River for a small brush fire between the two parking lots. The cause of the fire is believed to be a discarded cigarette igniting leaves and litter. No damage was reported.
  • Shoplifting Arrest – On Saturday, March 16, 2019, at 1:37 p.m., Officer Michael Verwey responded to Walmart on Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor for a report of shoplifting. The suspect, 40-year-old Randy L. Lynch of Laurel Drive, Whiting, NJ, was apprehended by an Asset Protection Associate while attempting to leave the store without paying for merchandise valued at $60. He was transported to police headquarters, where he was processed and released on a criminal summons for shoplifting.
  • House Fire – On Saturday, March 16, 2019, at 12:19 p.m., Officers Noah Schaffer, Frederick Anderson, Austin Deane and Lieutenant Christopher Kenny responded to the 400 block of Riverview Road for a house fire. Officers observed a large amount of smoke coming from the back portion of the home. Forked River Fire Department arrived and extinguished the fire. The fire appeared to have started on the back porch area of the home. The fire may have started by a discarded cigarette.
  • Shoplifting Arrest – On Friday, March 15, 2019, at 9:21 p.m., Officer Brian Holt responded to Walmart on Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor for a report of a shoplifter detained by an Asset Protection Associate. Officer Martin Julian arrived on scene to assist. The suspect, 61-year-old Valerie A. Materia of Montauk Drive, Forked River, was apprehended while attempting to leave the store with merchandise valued at$144.65. She was transported to police headquarters, where she was processed and released on a criminal summons for shoplifting.