• Shoplifting – On Friday, March 17, 2017, at 12:54 p.m., Officer Jeffrey Slota responded to the Walmart, located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor, for a shoplifter. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 47-year-old Michelle Weygand of Montauk Road in Forked River for shoplifting merchandise valued at $83. She was transported to Police Headquarters and processed. Michelle Weygand was released after receiving a criminal summons for shoplifting.
  • Criminal Mischief (Auto) – On Thursday, March 16, 2017, at 9:38 a.m., Officer Evan Androcy responded to Police Headquarters for a Criminal Mischief report. The victim reported that between the overnight hours of March 15, 2017 into March 16, 2017, an unknown person or persons damaged the driver’s side mirror on his vehicle that was parked on the 700 block of Baldwin Street in Forked River. The damage to the vehicle is estimated at $50.
  • Fire (Vehicle) – On Monday, March 13, 2017, at 10:45 p.m., Officer Scott Keefe responded to the 200 block of Donald Street in Lanoka Harbor, for a report of a vehicle fire. Investigation at the scene revealed that the caller had attempted to jump-start a vehicle. The jumper cables were placed on the wrong battery terminals, resulting in the other vehicle’s battery catching on fire. The fire was extinguished prior to the officer’s arrival and no one was in need of medical attention. The one vehicle sustained damage to its battery, which was located in the trunk, the trunk itself and the rear bumper. The Lanoka Harbor Fire Department arrived on scene and confirmed that the vehicles were no longer a hazard.
  • DUI Arrest – On Monday, March 13, 2017, at 6:06 p.m., Officer Michael Baldasari conducted a traffic stop on Oak Street and Parker Avenue in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 63-year-old Susan M. Bolender, of Newark Avenue in Forked River, for DUI. She was transported to police headquarters and processed. Susan M. Bolender was released after receiving traffic summonses for DUI, Reckless Driving, Failure to Maintain Lane, Failure to Exhibit Driver’s License, Consuming Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle, and Open Container in a Motor Vehicle. The vehicle she was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.
  • Eluding Arrest – On Monday, March 13, 2017, at 1:07 a.m., Officer Michael Verwey attempted to conduct a traffic stop at the intersection of Manchester Avenue and Snipe Road in Lanoka Harbor. The vehicle failed to stop and initiated a pursuit. Officer Verwey pursued the vehicle, however, he later terminated it. The vehicle was last heading east on Route 37 in Toms River. The suspect, 35-year-old Brian L. Guenther, Jr., of Chestnut Street in Roselle Park, NJ was later apprehended by the Seaside Park and Toms River Police Departments. He was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters and processed. Brian L. Guenther, Jr., was charged on a Criminal Warrant with Second Degree Eluding. In addition he received traffic summonses for Failure to Maintain Lane/Unsafe Lane Change (5 counts), Speeding (4 counts), Reckless Driving (2 counts), Disregarding a Traffic Signal, Failure to Stop or Yield and Failure to Signal. In addition Brian L. Guenther, Jr., received traffic summonses from the Toms River Police Department for Tailgating, Speeding, and Disregarding a Traffic Signal. Brian L. Guenther, Jr., was ultimately lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility on the Warrant for Eluding to await a bail hearing.
  • Burglary and Theft (Arrest) – During the middle of February 2017, members of two hunting camps reported that their clubs were burglarized. The Sportsman’s Gun Club, which hosts twenty members, reported that an unknown person(s) broke into their building and stole a generator, seven tree stands, and a hedge trimmer.  During the same time-frame, owners from a second nearby recreational trailer reported that someone stole a generator.  Both properties are located in Lacey Township but are accessed off Route 532 in Waretown, NJ.  During the investigation, several pieces of stolen property were recovered at two separate second-hand dealers.  The seller of the property had items from each burglary. On March 13, 2017, Lacey Township Police Detectives arrested the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Ralph K. Boyd, of Manasquan, NJ.  During his arrest, six tree stands belonging to The Sportsman’s Gun Club were recovered from inside Ralph Boyd’s vehicle.  Ralph Boyd was charged with two counts each of burglary and theft.  He was released pending a court appearance.  The total value of stolen property exceeded $2,000.
  • Burglary (Residence) – On Sunday, March 12, 2017, at 2:21 p.m., Officer Daniel Ricciardella responded to the 200 block of Laurel Boulevard in Lanoka Harbor, for a report of a burglary. The complainant reported that just prior to contacting this agency, he was taking a shower when he heard his dog barking. When he went to investigate, he saw an unknown male had entered his residence through an unlocked side door. The complainant’s dog bit the unknown male’s right forearm, causing it to bleed. The male then fled the residence on foot and headed east on Laurel Boulevard. The complainant did not observe anything missing from the residence. The Lacey Township Detective Bureau is investigating.
  • Fire – On Sunday, March 12, 2017, at 1:26 p.m., Officer Daniel Ricciardella responded to the Walmart, located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor, for a report of a fire in the men’s bathroom. The fire had been extinguished prior to arrival. Investigation at the scene revealed that a juvenile male had abruptly left the bathroom prior to the fire being discovered in the trash receptacle in the bathroom. There was minimal damage from the fire and no one was injured. The juvenile and his mother were located in the store. The incident remains under investigation and juvenile complaints are pending.
  • DUI Arrest – On Sunday, March 12, 2017, at 3:17 a.m., Officer Scott Keefe conducted a traffic stop on Lakeside Drive South and Serpentine Place in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 28-year-old Seth A. Melega, of Serpentine Drive in Forked River, for DUI. He was transported to police headquarters and processed. Seth A. Melega was released after receiving traffic summonses for DUI and Reckless Driving. The vehicle he was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.
  • Shoplifting – On Saturday, March 11, 2017, at 5:20 p.m., Officers Daniel Ricciardella and Julie Barcalow responded to the Walmart, located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor for two female shoplifters. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of a 17-year old female from Lanoka Harbor, for Shoplifting merchandise valued at $180 and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. In addition, a 15-year-old female from Forked River was arrested for Shoplifting merchandise valued at $80 and Possession of Marijuana 50 Grams or Less. Both juvenile females were transported to Police Headquarters and processed. They were ultimately released to their parents.
  • Shoplifting – On Saturday, March 11, 2017, at 12:06 p.m., Officer Daniel Ricciardella responded to the Walmart, located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor for a Shoplifting. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 26-year-old Joshua M. Smith of Bowsprit Road in Manahawkin, NJ, for shoplifting merchandise valued at $50. He was transported to Police Headquarters and processed. He was released after receiving criminal summonses for Shoplifting, Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose (by utilizing a knife to cut off an anti-theft device) and Possession of an Anti-Shoplifting/Inventory Control Device Countermeasure.
  • Drug Arrest – On Saturday, March 11, 2017, at 12:10 a.m., Officer Jesse Dalziel conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Game Farm Road and Route 9 North in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 64-year-old Joseph Casano, of Maple Lane in Forked River, for Possession of CDS. He was transported to police headquarters and processed. Joseph Casano was released after receiving a criminal summons for Possession of Marijuana 50 Grams or Less and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. In addition he received traffic summonses for Possession of CDS in a Motor Vehicle and Speeding.
  • Shoplifting – On Friday, March 10, 2017, at 6:15 p.m., Officer Elton Copes responded to the Walmart, located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor, for a report of a shoplifting incident. Investigation at the scene revealed that an adult white male, wearing a black baseball style cap, a black long-sleeve shirt, and blue jeans, entered the store and placed merchandise totaling $1,190 in a shopping cart. The adult male then exited the store through the frozen food department emergency exit without paying. He loaded the merchandise into a late-model vehicle and exited the parking lot heading northbound on Route 9. Just prior to the shoplifting, the male suspect was in Walmart with an adult female, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with a skull printed on the torso and blue jeans, and a dirty blonde-haired juvenile female wearing camouflage pants and a gray long-sleeve shirt with the word “Wish” printed on the torso. The incident remains under investigation.
  • Warrant Arrest – On Friday, March 10, 2017, at 2:17 p.m., Officer George Resetar conducted a traffic stop in the parking lot of the Baptist Church, located at 21 Haines Street in Lanoka Harbor. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 36-year-old Calogero C. Marchese, of Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor, on an outstanding Lacey Township Municipal Court warrant with bail in the amount of $500. Calogero C. Marchese was transported to police headquarters and processed. He was released after posting bail. In addition, Calogero C. Marchese received traffic summonses for Driving with a Suspended License and Speeding.