• Burglary/Theft of Motor Vehicle/Criminal Mischief/Resisting Arrest/Eluding – On Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at 5:07 a.m., the Lacey Township Police Department responded to the Lacey Business Park, located on Challenger Way in Forked River in reference to a power outage. Upon arrival, officers located damage to a utility pole. An investigation revealed that an unknown person or persons used a chain attached to a vehicle to pull the electrical service wire from the utility pole. As the tension was applied, a primary wire severed and caused an attached transformer to explode. Damage was also discovered to a nearby business that was supplied by the power wires. The damage is estimated at $20,000. Lacey Township Police Detectives were able to identify the vehicle involved as a dark-colored pickup truck, and determined that the incident occurred at 4:15 a.m. At approximately 12:oo p.m., a business owner in the area reported a black Ford pickup truck stolen from his parking lot. Officer John D. Simonson then observed the vehicle traveling on Newark Avenue in Forked River, and attempted to make a motor vehicle stop. The driver failed to stop and continued to elude police as it entered a wooded area near Argo’s Farm on Lacey Road, just west of the Garden State Parkway in Forked River.  A short time later officers located the abandoned pickup truck approximately two miles south of Lacey Road in the woods. A New Jersey State Police helicopter responded to assist with air patrol while a K-9 Unit from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department searched the wooded area in an attempt to locate the suspects. The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Unit processed the pickup truck for latent fingerprints and DNA.  At approximately 3:50 p.m., a citizen traveling on the Garden State Parkway in Forked River contacted police and reported two male subjects on the center median. Officers responded to the area of Llewellyn Parkway in Forked River, a road that runs adjacent to the Garden State Parkway on the east side. Upon arrival the Officers located two men walking on Serpentine Drive. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 23-year-old Eric Anderson, of Newark Avenue in Forked River, and 25-year-old John Clifton, of Raleigh Drive in Toms River, NJ. Both suspects were charged with burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest. Additionally, Eric Anderson was charged with eluding police. They were both lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility to await a bail hearing.
  • Warrant Arrest – On Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at 11:19 p.m., Officers Scott Keefe and Michael Baldasari responded to the Burger King, located at 346 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor for a suspicious vehicle. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 42-year-old Joseph A. Barbosa and 42-year-old Christian M. Barbosa, both of Annapolis Lane in Forked River, for outstanding warrants. Joseph Barbosa had an outstanding Trenton Municipal Court warrant in the bail amount of $2000 and Christian Barbosa had an outstanding Stafford Township Municipal Court warrant in the bail amount of $500. They were both transported to Police Headquarters and processed. Joseph Barbosa was released ROR by the Trenton Municipal Court. Christian Barbosa was unable to post bail and was lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility.
  • Theft (Residence) – On Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at 1:24 p.m., Officer Brian Holt responded to Police Headquarters for a theft report. The victim reported that between December 24, 2017 and January 2, 2018, an unknown person or persons stole a $50 Wawa gift card from the interior of her residence, located on the 1700 block of Inwood Place in Forked River. The gift card was later used at the Taylor Lane Wawa in Forked River for purchases totaling $14.19. The victim suspects one of her son’s friends might have taken the gift card. The incident remains under investigation.
  • Burglary and Theft (Auto)  – On Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at 11:47 a.m., Officer Dan Ricciardella responded to Police Headquarters for a theft report. The victim reported that between the early morning hours of January 1, 2018 and January 2, 2018, an unknown person or persons entered his unlocked vehicle that was parked on Holland Avenue in Forked River and stole his insurance card, registration card, and vehicle title with a total value of $5. The incident remains under investigation.
  • Drug Arrest – On Monday, January 1, 2018, at 10:21 p.m., Officer Scott Keefe conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Bullard Avenue and Lee Way in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 18-year-old Jeffrey J. Winiavski, of  Avalon Avenue in Bayville, NJ, and the passenger, identified as 20-year-old Kyle P. Feery, of Woodland Road in Bayville, NJ, for possession of CDS.  They were both transported to Police Headquarters and processed. Jeffrey J. Winiavski was released after receiving a criminal summons for Possession of Marijuana over 50 Grams and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. In addition, he received traffic summonses for Failure to Signal, CDS in a Motor Vehicle, and Failure to Exhibit a Driver’s License. Kyle P. Feery was charged on a criminal warrant with Possession of Marijuana Over 50 Grams and was lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility to await a bail hearing.
  • DUI Arrest with Motor Vehicle Accident  – On Monday, January 1, 2018, at 3:05 a.m., Officers Patrick Watkins, Elton Copes, and Scott Keefe responded to Donald Street in Lanoka Harbor for a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a parked vehicle. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 25-year-old Thomas Granit, of Alameda Court in Eatontown, NJ, for DUI. He was transported to Police Headquarters and processed. Thomas Granit was released after receiving  traffic summonses for DUI, Refusal to Submit to Breath Testing, Reckless Driving and Failure to Maintain Lane. The vehicle he was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.
  • Fire – On Monday, January 1, 2018, at 2:03 a.m., Officers Martin Julian, Michael Baldasari, and Scott Keefe responded to the 700 block of Bermuda Drive in Forked River for a report of a trash can on fire in the backyard of the residence. The Forked River Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the blaze, which was limited to two (2) garbage cans in the rear of the residence. It was determined that the fire originated from a discarded cigarette in one of the garbage cans. The damage caused by the fire is estimated at approximately $60.
  • Shoplifting – On Sunday, December 31, 2017, at 6:54 p.m., Officers Elton Copes and Patrick Watkins responded to the Walmart, located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor, for an adult male shoplifter.  Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 21-year-old James R. Carpenter of Tampa Road in Forked River, for shoplifting merchandise valued at $108. He was transported to Police Headquarters and processed. James R. Carpenter was charged on a complaint warrant with shoplifting and lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility to await a bail hearing.
  • DUI Arrest – On Sunday, December 31, 2017, at 12:11 a.m., Officer Martin Julian responded to the intersection of Deerhead Lake Drive and Alpine Street in Forked River for a suspicious vehicle. Officers Andrew Slota and Noah Schaffer also responded. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 39-year-old Brian W. Kelly of Vaughn Avenue in Forked River, for DUI.  He was transported to Police Headquarters and processed.  Brian W. Kelly was later released after receiving traffic summonses for  DUI, Refusal to Submit to Breath Testing and Reckless Driving, . The vehicle he was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.
  • Shoplifting – On Saturday, December 30, 2017, at 12:59 a.m., Officers Patrick Watkins and Elton Copes responded to the Wawa, located at 701 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor, for a shoplifter. An employee  reported that a male suspect was observed reaching over the counter and stealing a pack of cigarettes valued at $8.67. The male shoplifter exited the store and drove away in a gray Dodge pickup truck with an extended cab. The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 20 to 25 years old, with brown curly hair, who was wearing a blue winter coat, a blue scarf, and jeans. The incident remains under investigation.
  • Suspicious Incident and Criminal Mischief (Residence) – On Thursday, December 28, 2017, at 7:09 p.m., Officers Andrew Slota and Martin Julian responded to the 1400 block of G Street in Forked River, for a report of a suspicious incident. The homeowner reported that between December 23, 2017, and December 27, 2017, an unknown  person or persons damaged four rear window screens on the residence in an attempt to force entry. In addition, the homeowner reported damage to her vinyl fence gate. At the time of  the report entry does not appear to have been made to the residence and nothing appears to have been stolen. The total damage to the window screens and the fence gate is estimated at $100.
  • Drug Arrest – On Thursday, December 28, 2017, at 6:03 p.m., Officer Jesse Dalziel conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Falkenburg Avenue and Station Drive in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 39-year-old Cornelius J. Johanson, Jr., of Deerhead Lake Drive in Forked River, for Possession of CDS.  He was transported to Police Headquarters and processed. Cornelius J. Johanson, Jr., was released after receiving a criminal summons for Possession of Marijuana 50 grams or less. In addition, he received traffic summonses for CDS in a Motor Vehicle and a Cell Phone violation.