• Theft – On Tuesday, December 4, 2018, Officer Andrew Slota responded to police headquarters to take a report of theft. The victim reported that she went shopping at Walmart on December 3rd and went to the self-service register. She purchased her items using a Wells Fargo debit card. The victim left the store realizing she did not have her debit card and then went back into the store. Loss Prevention played the surveillance video for her showing a female putting the card in her pocket. She contacted her bank and cancelled her debit card. The incident remains under investigation.
  • Credit Card Fraud – On Monday, December 3, 2018, at 5:57 p.m., Officer Michael Hutman responded to police headquarters to take a report of fraud. The victim stated that between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. on December 3rd, he received a package from Best Buy containing surveillance equipment and cameras that he did not order. He contacted Best Buy and was advised that an unknown person opened a CitiBank Best Buy credit card under his name carrying a balance of $7,000. Best Buy deactivated the account upon the phone call. The victim contacted the appropriate credit agencies and advised them of the incident. No additional fraudulent activity as December 3rd has been discovered.
  • Warrant Arrest – On Sunday, December 2, 2018, at 2:28 a.m., Officers Anthony Sarno, Patrick Watkins, Scott Keefe, and Sergeant Robert Surtees responded behind the Municipal Utility Authority near Railroad Avenue in Forked River to serve active criminal warrants on 29-year-old Shaddiy Whittaker who was living in the woods. Shaddiy Whittaker was arrested without incident on a Monmouth County Child Support warrant in the amount of $29,765 and a Howell Township Municipal Court warrant in the amount of $1001. She was transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility without incident.
  • Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, December 1, 2018, at 10:23 p.m., Officer Michael Moeller was on patrol near Rail Avenue in Forked River when he made contact with a subject. Officer Scott Keefe arrived to assist. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 55-year-old James G. Stine of Frelinghuysen Avenue, Newark, NJ, on an outstanding warrant out of Roselle Park Borough Municipal Court in the amount of $568.00. James G. Stine was transported to police headquarters and processed. He was released on his own recognizance after receiving a new court date.
  • Shoplifting Arrest – On Saturday, December 1, 2018, at 3:32 p.m., Officer Randolph Plis and Officer Dan Ricciardella responded to the Walmart on Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor for a shoplifter in custody. The suspect, 51-year-old Gregory J. Mernar of East Point Pleasant Avenue, Ocean Gate, NJ, attempted to steal merchandise worth approximately $55. He was transported to police headquarters, charged with shoplifting, and released on a summons.
  • Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, December 1, 2018, at 11:29 a.m., Officer Michael Hein and Randolph Plis were dispatched to the wooded area behind Applebee’s on Route 9 South in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 44-year-old Amy V. Haas of Sandpiper Lane, Bayville, NJ, on an outstanding warrant out of Beachwood Township Municipal Court in the amount of $600. Unable to post bail, Amy Haas was transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility without incident.
  • CDS Arrest/Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, December 1, 2018, at 8:12 p.m., Officer Anthony Sarno was dispatched to the McDonald’s on Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor for a suspicious vehicle. Officers Michael Baldasari and Christopher Meyler arrived to assist. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 24-year-old Eric S. Anderson of Bennington Drive, Toms River, NJ, for possession of MDMA, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Eric Anderson was found to have a No Bail warrant out of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department. He was transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility without incident. A passenger in the vehicle, 28-year-old Matthew S. Diaz of Adriana Court, Brick, NJ, was arrested for possession of MDMA, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Matthew Dias was transported to the Ocean County Correction Facility without incident.
  • Suspicious Incident – On Friday, November 30, 2018, at 2:13 p.m., Officer Michael Hein responded to police headquarters to speak with a subject regarding a suspicious phone call with a male claiming to be from Social Security. The subject eventually provided the caller with his SSN. The subject felt that the phone call was most likely a scheme to get his SSN and wanted to report it. He was advised to contact the three major credit bureaus and alert his bank that his personal information may have been compromised. When Officer Hein tried the contact the suspicious phone number, it was no longer in service.
  • Theft from Auto – On Friday, November 30, 2018, at 1:43 p.m., Officer John McKee responded to Cedar Drive in Lanoka Harbor for a report of a theft from a vehicle. The victim believes that while he was parked at the Home Depot on Route 9 in Forked River, between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m., his Husqvarna chainsaw was stolen from the bed of his truck. This incident remains under investigation.
  • Fraud – On Friday, November 30, 2018, at 9:09 a.m., Officer John McKee responded to police headquarters to take a report of fraud. The victim reported that about two years ago, an unknown person obtained his Bank of America credit card number and completed fraudulent transactions. He cancelled the credit card and was issued a new card by the bank. Recently, Bank of America informed the victim that someone from New York with a NY driver’s license, again tried to use his cancelled credit card. The NY driver’s license was discovered to be invalid.