Weekly Police Blotter – Press Release
April 8th thru 15th, 2013
- Shoplifter – At approximately 7:21 p.m., on Monday, April 15, 2013, Officer Kymberly Gudgeon responded to Walmart concerning a male shoplifter being detained. Upon the officer’s arrival, Christopher Stoma, aged 18, of Barnegat was arrested for shoplifting. He attempted to steal an Apple Dock Connector and other merchandise totaling $49.91. Christopher Stoma was released on a summons after being processed.
- Theft from a Residence – At approximately 11:00 p.m., on Sunday, April 14, 2013, the homeowners of a Cedar Lake Point residence reported jewelry and cash stolen from their home. There was no sign of a forced entry into the home. The theft reportedly occurred while the homeowners were on vacation and a family member had guests inside the residence. The stolen items include: a ladies Zigzag diamond gold ring ($500), a men’s Citizen Ecodrive watch, gold with blue face ($600), and $160.00 in cash.
- Shoplifter – At approximately 1:41 p.m., on Saturday, April 13, 2013, Officers John Cernek and John Simonson responded to Kohls concerning a male shoplifter that fled the store with stolen merchandise. While utilizing the suspect’s description, the involved officers located the suspect, 19-year-old Dylan Avery of Bayville. He was charged with one count of shoplifting for stealing a gold-colored watch valued at $30. The stolen watch was returned to the store and Dylan Avery was released on a summons.
- Warrant Arrest – At approximately 2:00 a.m., on Saturday, April 13, 2013, Officers Alan Abrecht and George Resetar arrested 25-year-old Brian Shiflett of Forked River for an outstanding $500 warrant issued by Pine Beach. Brian Shiflett was arrested outside his home located on Woodland Road, Forked River. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail in default old of $500 bail.
- Credit Card Theft/Fraudulent Use – On Wednesday, April 3, 2013, an adult, female resident of Bayville, reported her Visa credit card stolen along with $25 in cash. The victim works in Lacey Township. A subsequent investigation by Police Officer Samuel Della Sala revealed that the victim’s Visa card was used on April 2, 2013, to complete fraudulent purchases at businesses located in Lacey Township. On Friday, April 12, 2013, Police Officer Samuel Della Sala arrested 18-year-old Brittany Dickinson of Tappan Street in Forked River. She was charged with Theft of Moveable Property, Theft of a Credit Card, Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card (2 Counts), and Criminal Attempt to Fraudulently Use a Credit Card (2 Counts). Brittany Dickenson was released on summons after being processed.
- Residential Burglary – At approximately 6:50 p.m., on Friday, April 12, 2013, Police Officers George Resetar and Robert Duffy responded to a home located on Center Street, Forked River, for a reported burglary to the residence. While the occupants of the residence were not home (3:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.) a non-forced entry was made into the residence. Once inside, force was utilized to breach a locked door. Stolen items from the residence included: a laptop computer, silver coins, and a GPS unit. The value of the stolen property is believed to exceed $500.
- Shoplifter – At approximately 1:40 p.m., on Friday, April 12, 2013, Officers Darrell Nick and Noah Schaffer responded to Kohls concerning an adult male being detained for shoplifting. Upon arrival of the officers, 39-year-old Thomas Hickey from Elmira Heights, NY, was arrested for shoplifting. He attempted to steal a Home Classic pillow sham and a Home Classic micro fleece blanket ($69.89). While in custody, a warrant in the amount of $250 issued by Barnegat Township was located. Thomas Hickey was transported to the Ocean County Jail in default of $2,500 for the shoplifting charge along with the $250 warrant out of Barnegat Township.
- DUI – At approximately 1:40 a.m., on Friday, April 12, 2013, Officer Dimitrios Tsarnas arrested 27-year-old Paul Diener of Taylor Avenue in Beach Haven, for DUI on Rt 9 in Forked River and charged him with DUI, Reckless Driving, Failure to Maintain Lane, and Failure to Change the address on his license.
- UPDATE – Arrest – On Thursday, April 11, 2013, Officers George Resetar and Andrew Slota prepared and served three complaint warrants against 32 year-old Nicholas Fisher of Brand Road in Toms River for the recent thefts of flat screen TVs from the Lacey Walmart. Nicholas Fisher’s total bail was set at $25,000. Officers Resetar and A. Slota conducted the investigation with the assistance of Detective Ronald Buxton. Nicholas Fisher was charged with three separate incidents of theft totaling $1,312 worth of stolen property. These incidents occurred at the Lacey Walmart on April 4, March 25, and March 19, 2013. At this time of this press release Nicholas Fisher remains in the Ocean County Jail in default of his bail.
- Drug Arrest – On Wednesday, April 10, 2013, officers responded to a Canterbury Drive, Forked River, home with a report of an unresponsive female. While rendering aid with medics, officers discovered two bundles of heroin. The patient, Chelsea Favor, was transported to the hospital. Officer Andrew Slota issued an arrest warrant for 33-year-old Chelsea Favor of Canterbury Drive, Forked River. She is charged with possession of heroin including: (18 full wax folds) and (8 wax folds containing residue). Chelsea Favor was also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Hypodermic Needle. Police Officer George Resetar later arrested Chelsea Favor. She was then transported to the Ocean County Jail in lieu of her bail set at $20,000.
- Warrant Arrest – At approximately 1:00 a.m., on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, Officer Dimitrios Tsarnas arrested 21-year-old Matthew Michota of Brick Avenue in Lanoka Harbor for an outstanding $100 warrant issued by Ocean Township (Waretown). Matthew Michota was transported to police headquarters where he posted bail and was released.
- Theft from Residence – At approximately 12:00 p.m., on April 9, 2013,Police Officer Noah Schaffer met with a residence on Taylor Lane, Forked River. This resident reported that someone stole the A/C compressor from the side of their residence sometime within the past month. The stolen coil was described as possibly being manufactured by Carrier, estimated value of $450. During the theft of the unit, the electrical wiring connecting the unit to the residence was cut causing approximately $1,000 in damages.
- DUI – At approximately 8:17 p.m., on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, Officers Samuel Della Sala and George Resetar investigated a heavily damaged telephone pole located in front of police headquarters at the corner of Headquarters Lane and Lacey Road in Forked River. The involved vehicle, a 1994 Jeep Cherokee with Pennsylvania plates, was quickly located inside the parking lot of the Lacey Township Municipal Building. The Cherokee displayed damage consistent with a vehicle striking a pole. Investigation following the crash led to the Jeep Cherokee’s driver, 19-year-old Geovanni Leandro of S. Main Street in Forked River, being charged with DUI, Reckless Driving, Failure to Maintain Lane, Uninsured Motor Vehicle, and being an Unlicensed Driver.
- Drug Arrest – Shortly after 6:00 p.m., on Monday, April 8, 2013, an alert, concerned citizen contacted police to report a suspicious vehicle. The caller observed an out-of-state U-Haul van exit Western Boulevard and drive into the woods just prior to the Cedar Creek Bridge. The U-Haul was further described as containing a male driver and a female passenger. Officers Julie Barcalow, John Simonson, and Lieutenant James Veltri responded to the area and located the van. The van was located parked in the woods several hundred yards off the road from Western Boulevard. Investigation at the scene led to the van’s driver, 43-year-old Charles Dekker of Forked River, receiving summons for violating Lacey Township’s Trespassing ordinance. The van’s passenger, 22-year-old Samantha Hajjar of Fox Hollow Drive in Lanoka Harbor, was charged with Possession of Heroin for possessing 22 wax folds of heroin. She also received a summons for Trespassing. Samantha Hajjar was arrested and later released after being processed and formally charged.