Weekly Police Blotter – Lacey Township Police Department – March 18th thru 23rd, 2015

Robbery – On Sunday, March 22, 2015, at 10:00 p.m., a male subject entered Mrs. Walker’s Ice Cream, located at 132 South Main Street (Route 9) in Forked River, at closing time and demanded all of the cash from the two employees. The man claimed he had a handgun in his back pocket; no gun was produced during the incident. The suspect received an unknown amount of cash which he placed in a pillow case he was carrying. He then told the employees that if they called the police he would return to kill them. The man fled out the door on the north side of the building on foot toward Route 9. The subject was described as a black male in his late 20’s to early 30’s, approximately 6’01″ tall, and had a medium build. He was wearing a white mask, a hooded multi-colored sweatshirt, gray sweat pants and white gloves during the robbery. The employees called the business owner who thereafter contacted the Lacey Township Police Department regarding the robbery. The suspect fled the area prior to the police department being contacted. Officers responded and conducted a search of the area. Detective Alan Abrecht responded to conduct the follow-up investigation. The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU) responded to process the scene. Video evidence is being retrieved to assist in the ongoing investigation.

Animal Complaint – On March 22, 2015, at 5:16 p.m., Officer Charles May and Officer Kymberly Gudgeon responded to 313 Merrimac to check the well-being of the resident. Upon checking the residence, the officers were not able to locate the resident, but did observe what appeared to be neglected animals. The animal control officer for Lacey Township was notified and responded to the scene. Upon evaluating the condition of the animals, as well as their environment, the animal control officer made a referral to the ASPCA for further investigation.

Criminal Mischief and Road Rage Incident – On Sunday, March 22, 2015, at 2:39 p.m., Officer Jeffrey Slota responded to the area of Lacey Road near the Garden State Parkway for a report of a road rage incident. The victim reported that she was involved in a road rage incident on the Garden State Parkway, and as she exited the parkway on to Lacey Road, the male driver of the other vehicle involved stopped and exited his vehicle. The male subject then proceeded to throw an object at her vehicle ultimately smashing the rear window. The victim was not injured. A description of the vehicle was provided and the investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting and Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, March 21, 2015, at 3:30 p.m., Officers Darrell Nick and Patrick Watkins responded to Walmart located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor for two adult male shoplifters in custody. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 28-year-old Matthew R. Dunn of Seminole Drive in Galloway, NJ, and 33-year-old Ronald D. Pinaniello, Jr., of Colonial Court in Galloway, NJ, for shoplifting merchandise, including but not limited to Notebook computers, valued at $1,450. In addition, Ronald D. Pinaniello, Jr., was found to have several outstanding Ocean County Sheriff’s Department warrants for his arrest. The first warrant was in the amount of $9,160.75, the second warrant was in the amount of $8,860.75, and the third warrant was in the amount of $3,973.80. Both subjects were transported to police headquarters, processed, and charged with shoplifting. Bail for each for the shoplifting offense was set in the amount of $7,500. They were both transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility in default of the bail.

DUI (Arrest) – On Saturday, March 21, 2015, at 3:56 p.m., Officer Michael Verwey and Officer Brian Hold responded to the Wawa, located at 701 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor, NJ, for two males reportedly preparing to fight. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 51-year-old Karl Herkert of Key Largo Court in Bayville, NJ, for DUI. He was transported to police headquarters, processed, and charged on traffic summonses with DUI and Reckless Driving. The vehicle he was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.

Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, March 21, 2015, at 7:50 p.m., Officers George Resetar and Christopher Meyler responded to the 500 block of Adolphus Street in Forked River to serve an Ocean County Sheriff’s Department no-bail Probation Violation Warrant. Upon arrival, they met with the accused, identified as 45-year-old Timothy Davis of Adolphus Street, and placed him under arrest on the warrant. Timothy Davis was transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility.

DUI (Arrest) – On Friday, March 20, 2015, at 6:51 a.m., Officers Darrell Nick and Patrick Watkins responded to the area of Route 9 for a report of an aggressive driver traveling southbound on Route 9 from Berkeley Township. The vehicle was located traveling south on Route 9 and officers observed the vehicle being operated recklessly. The vehicle was stopped on the 400 block of Route 9 South in the Lanoka Harbor section of the township. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver identified as 53-year-old John J. Santo of Frederick Drive in Bayville, NJ for DUI. He was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters, processed, and charged on traffic summonses with DUI and Reckless Driving. The vehicle John J. Santo was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.

Open Burn (Summons Issued) – On Friday, March 20, 2015, at 1:13 p.m., Sergeant Vincent Meehan and Officer Daniel Ricciardella responded to 3 Hilltop Court in Lanoka Harbor for an open burn. An investigation determined that the tenant, 21-year-old Joaquim Narciso was ultimately responsible for the fire and as a result he was issued a summons for the local ordinance violation. The Lanoka Harbor Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire.

Shoplifting (Arrest) – On Thursday, March 19, 2015, at 5:35 p.m., Officer Christopher Meyler and Officer John D. Simonson responded to Walmart located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor for an adult male shoplifter in custody. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 20-year-old Ian Watkins of Woodside Road in Forked River for shoplifting merchandise. He was transported to police headquarters, processed, and charged on a criminal summons with shoplifting.

Prisoner Transport and Possession of CDS – On Thursday, March 19, 2015, at 6:02 p.m., Officers Michael Verwey and Brian Holt responded to Scotch Plains Police Department to pick up a female prisoner, identified as 32-year-old Tiffany Taylor of Garden Drive in Roselle, NJ. Tiffany Taylor was arrested by the Scotch Plains Police Department on an outstanding Lacey Township warrant in the amount of $750 and was not able to post bail. Upon transporting her to the Ocean County Correctional Facility, Tiffany Taylor was found to be in possession of heroin. As a result, Tiffany Taylor was charged by Officer Verwey of the Lacey Township Police Department in the Toms River Township Municipal Court with Possession of Heroin and Hindering Apprehension. Bail was set in the amount of $10,000. Tiffany Taylor was lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility.

Shoplifting – On Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at 2:31 p.m., Officer Evan Androcy responded to Walmart, located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor, for a juvenile male shoplifter. Investigation at the scene led to a 17-year-old male juvenile from Pine Beach, NJ, being taken into custody for shoplifting merchandise valued at $75. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and charged on a juvenile complaint with Shoplifting. The juvenile was released to the custody of his parents who responded to police headquarters.

Theft (Bicycle) – On Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at 7:14 p.m., Officer Charles May responded to 1610 Whitcomb Road for a report of a bicycle theft. The victim reported that an unknown person or persons stole her baby blue Huffy “beach cruiser style” bicycle from the front porch of her residence between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2015. The bicycle is valued at $300.

Warrant Arrest – On Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at 1:44 a.m., Officers Michael Verwey and Dimitrios Tsarnas responded to the Bay Harbor Motor Lodge located at 419 Route 9 South in Forked River for a possible dispute. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 42-year-old Nicole C. Bishop of Halsey Drive in Toms River, NJ, on an outstanding Beachwood Borough Municipal Court warrant in the amount of $354. She was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters, processed, and lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail.