• Shoplifting – On Thursday, August 31, 2017, at 4:17 p.m., Officer Andrew Slota responded to One Love Surf Shop, located at 312 South Main Street in Forked River, for a report of a shoplifting. The owner reported that on August 25, 2017, at approximately 11:30 a.m., a white female, between 20 and 30 years of age, brought merchandise into the dressing room for an extended period of time and then left without purchasing anything. The store owner reported that at approximately 2:00 p.m. on August 31, 2017, the same female entered the store and took several items of clothing into the dressing room and then left again without purchasing anything. The store owner reported that they discovered a short time later that several items of clothing had been stolen. The stolen merchandise included an O’Neill shirt valued at $44, a Jetty zip up hooded sweatshirt valued at $49, and a swimsuit valued at $18. The total value of the stolen merchandise is $103. The female was observed by the store employee entering a red 2001 Saturn sedan. The suspect remains at large and the incident is under investigation.
  • Theft – On Thursday, August 31, 2017, at 9:35 a.m., Officer Frederick Anderson responded to Police Headquarters in reference to a theft report. The complainant reported that sometime during the last three weeks an unknown person or persons stole several items from a shed on his property, located on Montauk Drive in Forked River. The stolen property consisted of four Black Bart 130lb fishing rods valued at $6,000, four 2-speed Penn International 130VSX gold series fishing reels valued at $4,800, a Jerry Brown 500lb fishing line spooled on the four reels listed above valued at $1,200, two Tony Maja black and red fishing rods valued at $400, two Avet HX 5/2 silver fishing reels valued at $1,000, an East Wing framing hammer valued at $60, an East Wing concrete hammer valued at $40, a DeWalt cordless hammer drill valued at $230, a Makita 7.25 skill saw valued at $130, a DeWalt miter saw valued at $450, a DeWalt miter saw cutting stand valued at $199, a tackle bag containing assorted offshore fishing tackle valued at $1,500, and assorted copper pipes and fittings to plumb the residence valued at $500. The total value of the stolen property is estimated at $16,509.00. The incident remains under investigation.   
  • Theft (Residence) – On Wednesday, August 30, 2017, at 2:03 p.m., Officer John Cernek responded to the 1000 block of Pensacola Road in Forked River for a theft report. The complainant reported that between the middle of July 2017 and the middle of August 2017, several items were stolen from his residence. The stolen items included a 10k gold rope chain with various charms and pendants, a Ryobi cordless tool pack, a Bosch palm nailer, a Kent Bayside Cruiser, DVD’s, twenty (20) Xanax .5 mg tablets, two X box games, a PS Vita and a LG Arista cell phone. The total value of the stolen property is estimated at $1,619. There were no signs of forced entry. The name of a possible suspect was provided. The incident remains under investigation.
  • Drug and Warrant Arrest (Multiple) – On Monday, August 28, 2017, at 9:28 p.m., Officer Anthony Sarno conducted a traffic stop on Deerhead Lake Drive in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 21-year-old Yehuda L. Cochavi of Caranetta Drive in Lakewood, NJ, and the passenger, identified as 19-year-old Kaila S. Lapham of Maywood Place in Forked River, for possession of CDS. Furthermore, Yehuda L. Cochavi was found to have three (3) outstanding warrants for his arrest. Warrant number one (1) was issued from the Lakewood Township Municipal Court in the bail amount of $750, warrant number two (2) was issued from the Jackson Township Municipal Court in the bail amount of $250 and warrant number three (3) was issued from the Brick Township Municipal Court in the bail amount of $500. Both suspects were transported to Police Headquarters and processed. Kaila Lapham was released after receiving a criminal summons for Possession of Marijuana 50 Grams or Less and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Yehuda Cochavi was later turned over to the custody of the Lakewood Township Police Department. In addition, Yehuda Cochavi was issued traffic summonses for Speeding, Suspended Drivers License, Possession of CDS in a Motor Vehicle, Failure to Produce a Registration Card, and Failure to Produce an Insurance Card.
  • Warrant Arrest – On Sunday, August 27, 2017, at 11:10 p.m., Officer Michael Baldasari responded Tampa Road and Beach Boulevard in Forked River, for a dispute in the roadway. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 34-year-old James Papiomitis, of Capstan Avenue in Beachwood, NJ, on an outstanding Ocean County Sheriff’s Department warrant in the bail amount of $1,216.60. He was unable to post bail and was transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility in default of bail. 
  • DUI and Warrant Arrest – On Sunday, August 27, 2017, at 7:45 p.m., Officer Jason Lee responded to Route 9 and Sunrise Boulevard in Forked River, for a two-car motor vehicle crash. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of one of the drivers, identified as 35-year-old Jack Hall, of Willow Lane in Forked River for DUI. In addition, two (2) outstanding warrants were located for his arrest. Warrant number one (1) was issued from the Beachwood Municipal Court in the bail amount of $500, and warrant number two (2) was issued from the Stafford Township Municipal Court in the bail amount of $639. Jack Hall was transported to Police Headquarters and processed. He was released after receiving traffic summonses for DUI, Reckless Driving, Failure to Maintain Lane, Driving with a Suspended License, Unregistered Vehicle and Open Container of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle. In addition, Jack Hall was released ROR on both warrants. The vehicle he was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law. The crash remains under investigation and additional charges are forthcoming.
  • Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, August 26, 2017, at 12:29 p.m., Officer Brian Holt conducted a traffic stop in the parking lot of Bank of America located at 711 Lacey Road in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 41-year-old Justin Lach, of West Chelsea Avenue in Ocean Gate, NJ, on an outstanding Wall Township Municipal Court warrant in the bail amount of $500. He was transported to Police Headquarters and processed. Justin Lach was released after posting bail.
  • Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, August 26, 2017, at 9:22 a.m., Officer Michael Hein observed a suspicious vehicle near Eno’s Pond County Park in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 28-year-old George Hernandez, of Memorial Drive in Asbury Park, NJ, on an outstanding Patterson Municipal Court warrant in the bail amount of $750. He was transported to Police Headquarters and processed. He was released ROR by the Patterson Municipal Court.
  • Warrant Arrest – On Friday, August 25, 2017, at 10:32 p.m., Officer Scott Keefe conducted a traffic stop on Lakeside Drive East and Route 9 South in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 34-year-old Robert Prosperi Jr., of Enterprise Drive in Forked River, on an outstanding Ocean Township (Waretown) Municipal Court warrant in the bail amount of $89. He was transported to Police Headquarters and processed. Robert Prosperi Jr.,was released after posting his bail.
  • Drug Arrest – On Friday, August 25, 2017, at 9:04 p.m., Officer Anthony Sarno observed a suspicious vehicle parked in the wooded area near Maxim Drive and Lacey Road in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the passenger, 22-year-old Melissa Allen-Bey, of Schooner Avenue in Barnegat, NJ, for Possession of CDS. She was transported to Police Headquarters and processed. Melissa Allen-Bey was released after receiving a criminal summons for Possession of CDs and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The 17-year-old female driver from Ocean Township (Waretown) NJ, was issued a traffic summons for Possession of CDS in a Motor Vehicle.
  • Criminal Mischief – On Friday, August 25, 2017, at 7:16 a.m., Officer Dimitri Tsarnas responded to the intersection of Portsmouth Drive and Hastings Drive in Forked River, for a report of criminal mischief to a stop sign. The stop-sign was bent downward making it extremely dangerous to motorists. The damage to the sign was estimated at $50. The sign was repaired by the Lacey Township Department of Public Works.