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Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Lacey Township Police Department to protect the lives and property of those who visit, work, or reside in Forked River, Lanoka Harbor, and Bamber Lake, New Jersey. We, as the dedicated members of the Lacey Township Police Department, are committed to working diligently toward reducing criminal activity and victimization while improving the quality of life of the residents we so proudly serve. Our promise is to serve with honor and the highest level of integrity to maintain the public’s confidence in our organization.
Welcome to the Lacey Township Police Department Website
The dedicated members of the Lacey Township Police Department are committed to providing the highest level of service to the community. This includes the use of technology to not only ensure our law enforcement efforts are more efficient and effective, but to also provide the community with convenient services and timely information. You may obtain a motor vehicle accident report, valuable information on identity theft, neighborhood crime alerts, information on the passage of new laws, and much more. Please feel free to browse this website to familiarize yourself with the Lacey Township Police Department and the services available. This site will continue to evolve as additional opportunities to serve you better become available.
Department News – Lacey Township Police Department – National EMS Week – May 18, 2021
This week (May 16-22, 2021), is the 46th annual National EMS Week. This year's theme is “This Is EMS: Caring for Our Communities.” The Lacey Township Police Department would like to honor and thank all of our EMS providers, especially the members of our local EMS squads. We thank you for your dedication and service to our community each and every day. -Chief Michael C. DiBella
Weekly Police Blotter – Lacey Township Police Department – May 6 through May 13, 2021
Fraud- On Friday, May 7, 2021, at 9:40 a.m., Officer Jason Lee met with a Township resident reporting fraud. The victim reported seeing a fraudulent charge on his bank statement and contacted the attached phone number. The suspect identified himself as a member of the Geek Squad and was permitted access to the victim’s computer. The suspect explained that he credited the victim’s account twice accidentally and arranged to have the victim send funds back. After transferring a large amount of cash, the victim realized that the transfer was to a fraudulent account. Arrest- On Friday, May 7, 2021, at 6:45 p.m., officers responded to the Mercer County Correctional Facility to take custody of Michael Ritz, 27. Ritz was charged with Shoplifting from an incident that occurred at the CVS on March 25, 2021. The investigation was assigned to the detective bureau after Ritz stole perfume and cologne valued at $850. Ritz was identified through surveillance video collected at several different locations. He was lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility without bail after being processed. Fraud- On Monday, May 10, 2021, at 4:53 p.m., Officer Dan Ricciardella documented a fraud report from a Lanoka Harbor resident. The victim was [...]
Weekly Police Blotter – Lacey Township Police Department – April 29 through May 6, 2021
Theft- On Thursday, April 29, 2021, at 9:44 a.m., Officer Michael Hutman responded to an Ambermist Way construction site for a theft report. The victim reported that during the overnight hours unknown suspects stole 20 lengths of PVC pipe. Stolen Vehicle- After a vehicle was reported stolen on Thursday, April 29, 2021 from a Lacey commercial lot, Neptune Police recovered the vehicle. A Neptune officer conducted a motor vehicle stop on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 after the vehicle was identified as stolen. The driver of the vehicle, Johnnie McLean, 30, was arrested for possession of the stolen vehicle and numerous drug offenses. Shoplifting- On Thursday, April 29, 2021, at 2:53 p.m., Officer Michael Hutman was dispatched to Walmart in reference to a shoplifting. Loss Prevention reported that Joseph Butala, Jr., attempted to leave the store with merchandise valued at $250. Butala was arrested and charged with Shoplifting prior to being released on his own recognizance. Fraud- On Friday, April 30, 2021, at 11:47 a.m., Officer Michael Hutman met with a Township resident reporting a theft. The victim stated that she was contacted by Cyber Security advising her of fraudulent activity on her accounts. The victim was convinced to allow the [...]
Weekly Police Blotter – Lacey Township Police Department – May 27 through June 3, 2021
Criminal Mischief- On Saturday, May 29, 2021, at 3:14 a.m., police received a call from a Brentwood Road resident reporting damage to his home. Officers discovered that a large rock was thrown through the front window of the residence while the family slept. A search of the area did not reveal any suspects. Missing Person- On Saturday, May 29, 2021, at 10:10 a.m., Officer Alan Abrecht took a report concerning a missing 73 year-old man. The caller reported that the man suffers from dementia and might have been missing for nearly two days. Search efforts were conducted with the assistance of several other agencies including K-9 units. At 2:45 p.m., the man was located lying in a wooded area approximately ½ mile from his Lanoka Harbor residence. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Theft- On Sunday, May 30, 2021, at 10:26 a.m., Officer Andrew Slota was dispatched to an Edgemere Avenue home in reference to a theft. The victim reported that an unknown suspect stole 12 decorative fence pieces from the front of the residence. The theft was valued at $120. Fraud- On Monday, May 31, 2021, several reports were taken involving fraudulent claims. Two victims [...]
Weekly Police Blotter – Lacey Township Police Department – May 20 through May 26, 2021
Theft- On Thursday, May 20, 2021, at 6:53 p.m., Officer Elton Copes took a theft report from a local business. An employee reported observing a customer acting suspicious prior to leaving the store. Afterward, the employee discovered that her wallet was missing. Officer Copes was able to locate the customer and recover the wallet. No criminal charges were filed. Theft- On Thursday, May 20, 2021, at 7:01 p.m., Officer Patrick Watkins was dispatched to the rail trail for a theft report. The victim reported that his electric bicycle, valued at $1,600, was taken by another male subject. A suspect was identified and is being sought. DWI- On Thursday, May 20, 2021, at 7:13 p.m., Officers Dallas Gant and Anthony Sarno responded to a two-car motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Manchester Avenue and Haines Street. During the investigation it was determined that one driver, Robert Coughran, was under the influence. Coughran was arrested and charged with DWI and Reckless Driving. He was also charged criminally with Assault by Auto prior to being released pending a Court appearance. DWI- On Thursday, May 20, 2021, at 10:49 p.m., Officers Elton Copes and Patrick Watkins arrested an individual for DWI. The arrest [...]
Weekly Police Blotter – Lacey Township Police Department – May 13 through May 20, 2021
Shoplifting- On Friday, May 14, 2021, at 7:34 p.m., Officers Keith Pearce and Brian Holt were dispatched to Walmart for a shoplifting incident. During their investigation, officers determined that two Bayville residents, Valerie Coelho, 53, and Pelagio Coelho, 49, attempted to steal merchandise valued at $185.72. Both were arrested and charged with Shoplifting prior to being released. Theft- On Saturday, May 15, 2021, at 8:21 p.m., a Llewellyn Parkway resident contacted police reporting a theft. Officer Randy Plis responded and reported that a Charbroil gas grill was stolen from the homeowner’s driveway. The male suspect, who was captured on surveillance video, was operating a Honda Ridgeline. The grill was valued at $200. Arrest- On Sunday, May 16, 2021, at 5:53 p.m., Sergeant Michael Verwey and Officer Matthew D’Antonio responded to Route 9 and Lacey Road for a vehicle not moving from the intersection. Officers discovered a male driver and a female passenger asleep in the vehicle and not responding. Upon awakening, both subjects appeared under the influence. A search of the vehicle yielded 165 bags containing heroin, 20 syringes, and over $500 cash. The couple, Joseph Sinopoli, 28, and Alysha Manhat, 31, were arrested and charged with Possession of Heroin, [...]