Police-Blotter-1

Weekly Police Blotter

March 16th thru March 21st, 2016

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  • Eluding (Arrests) – On Monday, March 21, 2016, at 5:41 p.m., Officer Brian Holt conducted a motor vehicle stop in the parking lot of Wawa, 800 West Lacey Road in Forked River, NJ. The driver of the vehicle was identified as 34-year-old Jennifer Whalen of 44 Bellflower Court in Toms River. As Officer Holt was conducting his investigation, Jennifer Whalen drove away and fled the scene. As the suspect vehicle was turning onto Lacey Road from the parking lot of Wawa, the front seat passenger, 30-year-old Brittany Bodzak of Lane Place in Forked River, NJ, jumped out of the moving vehicle. Officer Holt followed the suspect vehicle with his lights and sirens activated, but the driver refused to stop and ran a red light at the intersection of Lacey Road and Newark Avenue, before getting onto the Garden State Parkway northbound. Officer Holt chose not to pursue the vehicle and notifications were made to the surrounding law enforcement agencies. An outstanding Ocean County Sherriff’s Department arrest warrant in the amount of $5,000 was located for Jennifer Whalen.The Toms River Township Police Department was notified and later located Jennifer Whalen at her residence. Jennifer Whalen was arrested and transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where she was processed and charged with 2nd degree Eluding. Judge Damian Murray set bail at $50,000. Jennifer Whalen was transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility in default of the bail. The passenger, Brittany Bodzak, who had left the area after jumping out of the vehicle, later turned herself in and was placed under arrest on an outstanding no-bail Atlantic City Municipal Court warrant and a Manchester Township Municipal Court warrant in the amount of $250. Brittany Bodzak was turned over to the custody of the Atlantic City Police Department.

  • Shoplifting (Arrest) – On Monday March 21, 2016, at 1:19 p.m., Officer Watkins responded to Walmart, 580 Route 9 North in the Lanoka Harbor section of the township for a report of Shoplifting. The loss prevention employee reported that he observed a male subject walk around the store and place $123.38 worth of merchandise in a Walmart shopping bag. The subject then attempted to leave the store without paying for the items. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 35-year-old Christopher M. Schumacher Jr. of Station Drive in Forked River, NJ for shoplifting and on an outstanding Barnegat Township Municipal Court warrant in the amount of $500. Christopher Schumacher was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where he was processed and charged with Shoplifting. Judge Damian Murray set bail at $1,000. Christopher Schumacher was processed and transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility in default of the bail.

  • Theft from a Vehicle – On Sunday, March 20, 2016, at 1:07 a.m., Officer Elton Copes responded to a Walnut Drive residence in Lanoka Harbor for a report of theft. The victim reported that between 10:00 p.m. on March 19, 2016 and 1:00 a.m. on March 20, 2016, an unknown person or persons entered her vehicle and stole approximately $3,200 in various professional hair stylist tools. The theft reportedly included three pairs of scissors, shears, a razor, and brushes. The items were stored in a navy blue Michael Kors bag and a black Victoria Secret wallet which were both stolen along with the other items. The vehicle was parked in the street in front of the residence at the time of the theft.

  • Criminal Mischief – On Saturday, March 19, 2016, at 5:53 p.m., Officer Noah Schaffer responded to Swains Bog Road in the Bamber Lakes section of the township for a report of criminal mischief. The caller reported that a utility pole had been cut down and the transformer had broken open when it fell to the ground, spilling approximately 15 gallons of fluid onto the ground. Bamber Lakes Fire Department and Berkley Township Hazmat Team responded to the scene in regards to the spilled fluid. JCP&L responded to the scene to address the utility pole and wires. A clean up company for JCP&L responded to address the spilled fluid. The damage is estimated at $5,000.

  • Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, March 19, 2016, at 8:56 p.m., Sergeant Robert Flynn was on patrol as part of a Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund (DDEF) special detail when he stopped a vehicle on Route 9 near Lakeside Drive South for Maintenance of Lamps. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, 26-year-old Keith W. Hesterman Jr. of Forked River on an outstanding Lacey Township Municipal Court warrant in the amount of $500. Keith Hesterman was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where he was processed and released after posting bail.

  • DUI (Arrest) – On Saturday, March 19, 2016, at 11:26 p.m., Officer Elton Copes and Sergeant Robert Flynn responded to Wawa, 701 Route 9 north in Lanoka Harbor, NJ, for a report of a male subject passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle. Officers responded and located the vehicle. The vehicle was running and the driver was passed out in the driver seat. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 46-year-old Douglas Laperry of Cedar Drive in Lanoka Harbor, NJ, for DUI. Douglas Laperry was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where he was processed and then charged with DUI and Reckless Driving. Douglas Laperry was also found to have an outstanding Jackson Township Municipal Court warrant in the amount of $289 and an outstanding Wall Township Municipal Court warrant in the amount of $104. Douglas Laperry posted bail for the warrant. The vehicle he was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.

  • DUI (Arrest) – On Saturday, March 19, 2016, at 12:09 a.m., Officer Dimitrios Tsarnas was working a Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund (DDEF) special detail when he stopped a vehicle on Lacey Road near the intersection of Shepard Avenue. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, 24-year-old Melody Duah of Montgomery Street in Rahway, NJ, for DUI. Melody Duah was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where she was processed and charged with DUI, Reckless Driving, Improper Turn, Open Container, and Failure to Maintain Lane. The vehicle she was driving was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.

  • Possession of Marijuana (Arrest) – On Friday, March 18, 2016, at 11:24 p.m., Officer Michael Verwey was working a Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund (DDEF) special detail when he stopped a vehicle on Route 9 near the intersection of Oak Street. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, 22-year-old Cory D. Snyder-Festa of Tamarack Road in Forked River, NJ, for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. Cory Snyder-Festa was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where he was processed and charged with Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Maintenance of Lamps, and Possession of CDS in a Motor Vehicle.

  • Warrant Arrest – On Thursday, March 17, 2016, at 8:35 p.m., Officer Adam Ewart stopped a vehicle for speeding on Route 9 near the intersection of Bay Way in the Lanoka Harbor section of the township. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, 21-year-old Jeffrey S. Row of Toms River on an outstanding Ocean Township Municipal Court Warrant in the amount of $90. Jeffrey Row was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where he was processed and released after posting bail.

  • Warrant Arrest – On Wednesday, March 16, 2016, at 9:20 p.m., Officer John McKee conducted a traffic stop on Western Boulevard near the intersection of Colgate Avenue of 52-year-old Lisa A. Deo of Ironside Drive in Whiting, NJ, for driving while suspended. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of Lisa Deo on an outstanding Jackson Township Municipal Court warrant in the amount of $138. Lisa Deo was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where she was processed and released after posting bail. Lisa Deo was issued a summons for Driving While Suspended.

  • Shoplifting (Arrest) – On Wednesday, March 16, 2016, at 4:16 p.m., Officer Charles May responded to Walmart, 580 Route 9 North in the Lanoka Harbor section of the township, for a report of shoplifting. The loss prevention employee reported that he observed a male subject remove 10 Samsung cell phone screen protectors from the store shelves and then hide them in the rear waistband of his pants. The subject then reportedly attempted to exit the store through the garden center without paying for the merchandise. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 23-year-old James C. DeCarlo of Spruce Street in Forked River, NJ, for Shoplifting. James DeCarlo was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where he was processed and charged with Shoplifting the $99.60 worth of merchandise.

  • Possession of Heroin (Arrest) – On Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at 8:28 p.m., Officer Dimitrios Tsarnas conducted a traffic stop on Municipal Lane near Lacey Road of 21-year-old Melissa A. Szewczyk of 1440 Chester Avenue in Whiting, NJ, as a result of having two outstanding Lakewood Township Municipal Court warrants with a total bail amount of $2,850. Investigation at the scene led to the discovery of a hypodermic syringe and 31 heroin wax folds. Of the wax folds found in Melissa A. Szewczyk’s possession, 14 were empty and 17 contained small quantities of suspect Heroin. The rear seat passenger, 28-year-old Glenn Jones Jr. of 701 Stephanie Court in Forked River, NJ was found to be in possession of a full wax fold of Heroin and 8 empty wax folds of heroin. The front seat passenger, 23-year-old Crystal Clancy of 554 Holmes Avenue in Forked River, NJ, was found to be in possession of a green straw with burnt residue as well as 4 empty wax folds of heroin. All three suspects were placed under arrest and transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters. Melissa Szewczyk was charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe. Judge Damian Murray set her bail at $20,000. Melissa Szewczyk was transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail. Glenn Jones Jr. was charged with Possession of Heroin and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Crystal Clancy was charged with two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.