Arrest (Hit & Run MVA) – On Sunday, November 9, 2014, at 1:38 a.m., Officer Scott Keefe responded to the parking lot of Caffrey’s Tavern located at 440 Route 9 South in Forked River for a hit and run motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian struck. The preliminary investigation revealed that a vehicle was observed backing into and striking an unoccupied vehicle in the parking lot. A pedestrian in the parking lot witnessed the accident and attempted to stop the hit and run vehicle from leaving at which point the pedestrian was struck by the vehicle which then fled the scene. The 43-year-old male victim suffered minor injuries. The driver of the hit and run vehicle did not stop to check on the pedestrian and instead fled the scene. The vehicle was described as a black, 2000, Cadillac Eldorado with New York Registration GTS4740. The vehicle was registered to an unoccupied business in New York with no contact information available.
On the morning of Wednesday, November 12, 2014, the suspect vehicle was located parked in the driveway of a residence on the 800 block of Anchor Drive in Forked River. Lieutenant Michael DiBella and Sergeant Vincent Meehan responded to the residence and confirmed the vehicle was parked unoccupied in the driveway. Officer Frederick Anderson also responded. After receiving no response at the residence, the vehicle was impounded. An investigation by the uniformed officers led to the identification and arrest of 56-year-old Andrew P. Kelly with a last known address of 27 Parkdale Drive in Farmingdale, New York for his involvement in the hit and run motor vehicle accident. The investigation revealed that Andrew P. Kelly was temporarily staying at the residence on Anchor Drive. During the late afternoon hours of Wednesday, November 12, 2014, Andrew P. Kelly was located on Anchor Drive and arrested by Sergeant Meehan and Officer Anderson. He was transported to the Lacey Township Police Department and processed. Andrew P. Kelly was charged with Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon (motor vehicle) with bail set at $25,000. Andrew Kelly was lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail. He was also issued traffic summonses for Driving with a Suspended License, Reckless Driving, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and Failing to Report an Accident.