• Warrant Arrest – On Wednesday, January 30, 2019, at 12:17 a.m., Officers Anthony Sarno and Scott Keefe located a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of the Wawa, located on Laurel Avenue and Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the passenger, 34-year-old Lauren Keller of Seaside Park, NJ, on two outstanding Paterson Municipal Court warrants with bail totaling $1000, along with a Hunterdon County No Bail Warrant. She was transported to police headquarters and processed. Lauren Keller was lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility without incident.
  • Fraud – On Wednesday, January 30, 2019, at 1:01 p.m., Officer Dan Ricciardella responded to police headquarters to take a report of fraud. The 73-year-old woman reported that she sold a painting on line for $210. The buyer sent her a cashier’s check for $1965. At the request of the buyer, she cashed the check and agreed to send the buyer back the difference of $1755 using an app by the name of Zelle. She complied and the next day TD Bank notified her that her account was overdrawn. The bank advised her that the cashier’s check turned out to be fraudulent. The victim put a stop payment on the check before the funds were released to the buyer and the woman was not out any money.
  • DUI and Warrant Arrest – On Monday, January 28, 2019, at 10:31 p.m., Officer Scott Keefe conducted a motor vehicle stop on Lacey Road in Bamber Lake. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, 23-year-old Amber L. Thomas of Good Luck Road in Forked River, for DUI. She was transported to police headquarters and processed. Amber Thomas was released after received motor vehicle summonses for DUI, Reckless Driving, Refusal to Submit Breath Samples, and Speeding. The vehicle she was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law. Additionally, the passenger in the vehicle, 49-year-old Laurie Harrison of Good Luck Road in Forked River, was arrested on three Lacey Township Municipal Court warrants with bail totaling $1250. She was lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility without incident.
  • Shoplifting Arrest – On Sunday, January 27, 2019, at 12:29 p.m., Officer Jeffrey Slota responded to the Walmart, located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor, for a report of a shoplifter in custody. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 25-year-old Bethany B. Norris of Grant Avenue in Seaside Heights, NJ, for shoplifting merchandise valued at $212. During her arrest, Norris was found in possession of medication not issued by a practitioner. Bethany Norris was transported to police headquarters and processed. She was released after receiving a criminal summons for shoplifting and possession of CDS.
  • DUI Arrest – On Sunday, January 27, 2019, at 1:16 a.m., Officer Jason Lee conducted a motor vehicle stop on Lakeside Drive East and Marine Road in Forked River.   Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, 25-year-old Michael R. Buron of Parkers Point Boulevard in Forked River, for DUI. He was transported to police headquarters and processed. Michael Buron was released after receiving motor vehicle summonses for DUI, Speeding, Failure to Maintain Lane, and Reckless Driving. The vehicle he was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.
  • Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, January 26, 2019, Officer Jason Lee conducted a motor vehicle stop on Route 9 North near Nautilus Boulevard in Forked River. The driver, 34-year-old Patricia M. Clayton of Ocean Gate, NJ, was arrested on an active South Toms River Municipal Court warrant in the bail amount of $350. She was transported to police headquarters and processed. Patricia Clayton was later released on her own recognizance by the South Toms River Municipal Court.
  • DUI Arrest with Motor Vehicle Crash – On Saturday, January 26, 2019, at 3:36 p.m., Officer Noah Schaffer responded to the 600 block of Williams Avenue in Forked River for a Hit and Run Motor Vehicle Crash. Officers Scott Anderson and Andrew Slota also responded. Investigation led to the arrest of the driver, 55-year-old Celeste A. Flanagan of Williams Avenue in Forked River for DUI. She was transported to police headquarters and processed.   Celeste Flanagan was released after receiving motor vehicle summonses for DUI, Reckless Driving, Failure to Maintain Lane, Refusal to Submit Breath Testing, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and Failure to Report a Motor Vehicle Accident. The vehicle she was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.
  • Fraud – On Saturday, January 26, 2019, at 2:19 p.m., Officer Scott Anderson responded to police headquarters to take a report of fraud. The complainant reported that an employee from Ocean First Bank contacted her stating that the bank was contacted approximately 15 times by a woman claiming to be the victim. The unknown woman provided personal information, including a social security number, wishing to withdraw funds from her bank account.   The bank froze the account after seeing suspicious charges from Florida. The incident is under investigation.
  • Forgery and Theft by Deception – On Saturday, January 26, 2019, at 12:57 p.m., Officer Alan Abrecht responded to the Wawa, located on Taylor Lane and Route 9 South in Forked River for a report of counterfeit $100 bills being passed at the gas pump and inside the store. The subjects left prior to officers arriving. A description of the vehicle was provided. A short time later the Berkeley Township Police Department located the vehicle at the Sand Castle Diner in Beachwood, NJ. Beachwood and Berkeley Township Police Departments identified the occupants as 46-year-old John E. Dew of Route 166 in Toms River, NJ, and 47-year-old Irwin F. Greene of Washington Road in Sayreville, NJ. Further investigation revealed that both subjects had active warrants. They were arrested by the Berkeley Township Police Department and lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility. Officer Abrecht charged John Dew with Forgery and Theft by Deception and Irwin Greene with Forgery, for the incidents in Lacey Township.