Police Blotter ImageWeekly Police Blotter – Press Release

July 29th, thru August 4th, 2014

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  • Death by Auto (Arrest) – On Monday, August 4, 2014, at approximately 11:55 p.m., a pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle on Route 9 South near Mario’s Pizzeria in Forked River. The investigating officers determined that a 2000, Dodge, Ram, 1500 van driven by 27-year-old Patrick Clayton of Bayville was traveling North on Route 9 when for an unknown reason the vehicle drifted over the center line into the southbound lane and onto the shoulder of the roadway. Marcelo Romano Nolazco, 37, and his friend Jose Sanchez, 38, both of Forked River, were walking north on the southbound shoulder of Route 9 when the Dodge Ram came from behind them and struck Nolazco directly while grazing Mr. Sanchez who was walking with Mr. Nolazco. Mr. Sanchez was uninjured, however, Mr. Nolazco was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:15 a.m.After striking the pedestrians, Patrick Clayton did not stop his vehicle and left the scene. He continued into a nearby Applebee’s restaurant parking lot. Officers, using a description provided by Mr. Sanchez, quickly located Patrick Clayton’s van in the nearby Applebee’s restaurant parking lot. Patrick Clayton was found inside the restaurant and taken into custody. The Dodge Ram van was secured and towed pending a search warrant. While at the scene, an MVC look up revealed that Clayton’s driving privilege was suspended, and he also had three (3) active warrants for his arrest. Clayton was arrested and processed back at police headquarters. A telephonic search warrant for Clayton’s blood was requested by the investigating officers and granted by Judge Hodgson. Patrick Clayton has been charged with second degree Death by Auto and Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Crash Resulting in Death, and third degree Causing Death to Another While in Violation of 39:3-40 (License Suspension). Bail was set at $200,000 with no ten percent option.

  • Theft – On Monday, August 4, 2014, at 5:52 p.m., Officer Darrell Nick responded to a Maple Road residence in Lanoka Harbor in reference to a theft. The victim reported that he rode his green and black Trek bicycle to his friend’s house on Maple Road and left it unsecured outside the fenced in the front yard of the residence. Upon returning outside approximately 30 minutes later, he discovered that the bicycle had been stolen. The bicycle is valued at $500. A red and silver, Next “Powerx,” 18 speed bicycle was left at the scene. Officer Nick transported the found bicycle to headquarters where it was processed and submitted to the property clerk.

  • DUI (Arrest) -On Sunday, August 03, 2014, 2:38 a.m., Officer Dimitrios Tsarnas conducted a motor vehicle stop on Route 9 near Sunrise Boulevard. The driver, 42-year-old Michael Moore of Forepeak Avenue in Beachwood, was found to have an expired license. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of Michael Moore for DUI. The vehicle was impounded pursuant to John’s Law. Michael Moore was transported to Lacey Police Headquarters where he was processed and issued motor vehicle summonses for DUI, reckless driving, expired drivers license, and failure to maintain lane.

  • Unattended Death – During the overnight hours of Sunday, August 3, 2014, into Monday, August 4, 2014, the Lacey Township Police Department received a third-party call from a resident of the Lacey Inn on Route 9 in Forked River. The caller reported that another individual advised him that a homeless woman was deceased in a tent in a wooded area between the Lacey Inn and the Game Farm property. Officers responded to the area and conducted a search on foot. Officers located 51-year-old Cheri Peterson (formerly of Wells Mills Road in Waretown) deceased within the tent. A medical examiner from the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene. Likewise, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU) also responded and assisted with the investigation. There were no overt signs present indicating the cause of death. The matter is under investigation and pending a determination by the medical examiner as to the cause of death. Detective Robert Surtees of the Lacey Township Police Department is conducting the investigation.

  • Warrant Arrest – On August 2, 2014, at 6:46 p.m., Officer Scott Keefe and Officer Darrell Nick responded to a Bay Way residence in Lanoka Harbor in reference to a call for medical assistance. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of one of the residents, 34-year-old Shawn Wrazen, on an Ocean County Sheriff’s Department warrant for a violation of probation. Shawn Wrazen was later turned over to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Warrant Team and transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility.

  • Warrant Arrest – On Friday, August 1, 2014, at 4:54 p.m., Special Officer Russell Moller was on patrol in the area of Laurel Boulevard when he observed 31-year-old Melanie Bald of Laurel Boulevard. Special Officer Moller was aware that Melanie Bald had outstanding warrants for her arrest. Special Officer Moller placed her under arrest after confirming that she had an active $1,250 Lacey Township Municipal Court Criminal warrant and an active $350 Berkeley Township Municipal Court traffic warrant. Melanie Bald was unable to post bail and was transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility.

  • Receiving of Stolen Property (Arrest) – On Friday, August 01, 2014, at 12:23 a.m., Officer George Resetar was patrolling the area of Dover Road and Good Luck Road in the Bamber Lake section of the township when he observed two suspicious vehicles parked off of the shoulder of the roadway. Upon checking the area, Officer Resetar located three subjects hiding in the woods. Two subjects, 20-year-old John Ryan of Carr Avenue in Keansburg, NJ, and 21-year-old Margarita Roldan of St. John’s Place in Keansburg, NJ, were found with an all-terrain vehicle in their possession. Another subject, 22-year-old Mitchell R. Braikovich of Avenue A in Bayonne, NJ, was found in possession of a dirt bike. A $114 Beachwood Borough Municipal Court contempt warrant was located for Mitchell Braikovich. The dirt bike, a 2007, Honda, CRF 100F, red/white in color, that Mitchell Braikovich had in his possession was found to have been reported stolen out of Manville Township, NJ, on August 19, 2013. Mitchell Braikovich was placed under arrest and transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters. The dirt bike and quad were impounded and the Manville Township Police Department was notified in reference to the stolen dirt bike. John Ryan and Margarita Roldan were both issued complaint summonses for trespassing. John Ryan received motor vehicle summonses for failure to exhibit an ATV registration, failure to exhibit ATV insurance, and operating an ATV without a helmet. Mitchell R. Braikovich was charged on a criminal summons with possession of stolen property. He was also issued a complaint summons for trespassing and received motor vehicle summonses for driving while suspended, failure to exhibit an ATV registration, failure to exhibit ATV insurance, and operating an ATV without a helmet. Mitchell Braikovich was processed and released after posting bail on the Beachwood Borough warrant. The stolen dirt bike was returned to the owner the next day.

  • Drug Possession (Arrest) – On Friday, August 01, 2014, Officer Dimitrios Tsarnas was on patrol near the area of Route 9 and Beach Boulevard when he conducted a motor vehicle stop. The registration privileges for the vehicle had been suspended. The registered owner, 31-year-old Michael Polovitch of Betsy Ross Lane in Whiting, NJ, was operating the vehicle. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the passenger, 44-year-old Leslie Haines of Engleside Avenue in Beach Haven, NJ, who was found to be in possession of hypodermic syringes with each syringe containing suspected CDS. The vehicle was also occupied by two other passengers who were identified as a 23-year-old subject from Winteringham Village in Toms River, NJ, and a 19-year-old subject from Clifton Place in Jersey City, NJ. The vehicle was impounded due to the suspended registration. Michael Polovitch was issued summonses for possession of CDS in a motor vehicle and driving with a suspended registration. Leslie Haines was transported to Lacey Police Headquarters where she was processed for the criminal charge. Leslie Haines was charged with one count of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and one count of possession of a hypodermic syringe.

  • Warrant Arrest – On Thursday, July 31, 2014, at 8:37 a.m., Officer John Simonson responded to Atlantic Gravel, located at 2301 Lacey Road, Forked River, in reference to a theft. The site manager reported that tools were stolen from inside an equipment truck that was parked on the property. The theft occurred between Sunday, July 20, 2014 and Sunday, July 31, 2014. The stolen tools included large socket sets, socket wrenches, large crescent wrenches, and channel lock pliers. The value of the stolen tools is estimated at $1,000.

  • Shoplifting – On Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at 7:46 a.m., Officer Frederick Anderson responded to Walmart in Lanoka Harbor in reference to incidents of shoplifting. The loss prevention employee reported that a female stole two comforters from the store. The female was observed leaving the store at approximately 7:28 a.m. with one of the comforters and then she reentered the store approximately 10 minutes later and stole an additional comforter. The female suspect was seen entering a gray, Chevrolet, Trail Blazer LT. The total value of the stolen comforters is $61.93. The matter is currently under investigation by Officer Anderson.

  • Trespassing (Formal Charge) – On Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at 3:54 p.m., Officer Evan Androcy responded to an East Lacey Road residence in reference to a trespassing complaint. The son of the homeowner reported that he believed someone was sleeping in the detached garage on his mother’s property without her permission. Officers located 55-year-old Brett Chambers of Dock Road in West Creek, NJ, sleeping in a makeshift bed in the garage. Brett Chambers was charged with trespassing on a complaint summons.

  • Underage Consumption of Alcohol (Formal Charges) – On Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at 12:16 a.m., Officer Evan Androcy was trying to locate a missing 15-year-old, juvenile female. Investigation led officers to an address on Kay Street in Forked River. While speaking with the occupants, Officer Androcy discovered that a 16-year–old female was highly intoxicated and was vomiting. The juvenile was transported to Community Medical Center by Lacey Township EMS. Officer Androcy prepared formal charges for the 16-year-old as well as a 15-year-old female for their underage consumption of alcohol.

  • Possession and Distribution of Heroin (Arrests) – On the afternoon of Wednesday, July 30, 2014, detectives of the Lacey Township Police Department witnessed a suspicious transaction between two adult male pedestrians in the area of Murray Grove Cemetery in Lanoka Harbor. After an exchange between the two subjects and upon further investigation, detectives discovered 55 bags containing Heroin. Kyle Pianetti, 22, of Briar Road in Lanoka Harbor was arrested and charged with Possession of Heroin. The second suspect, Jason Drackwicz, 22, of Bayshore Drive in Toms River was arrested and charged with Possession of Heroin and Distribution of Heroin.