Police Blotter 1Weekly Police Blotter – Press Release

October 14th, 2014 thru October 21st, 2014

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  • Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Arrests) – On late Friday night, October 17, 2014, into the early morning hours of Saturday, October 18, 2014, the Lacey Township Police Department initiated a thorough investigation into a report of a party involving at least eight youth between the ages of 13 to 14 engaging in the heavy consumption of hard alcohol while also smoking Marijuana at 611 Clairmore Avenue in Lanoka Harbor. The report came from a concerned parent who reportedly found her daughter highly intoxicated at the residence. The young girl was brought by the mother to police headquarters at 12:23 a.m. on Saturday, October 18, 2014, where Lacey EMS responded and transported the girl to Community Medical Center for immediate medical attention. Officer Michael Verwey, Officer George Resetar, and Sergeant Ronald Buxton responded to 611 Clairmore Avenue to further investigate the concern. Upon arrival at the residence, officers found numerous 13 and 14 year old youths who were visibly intoxicated and showing signs of impairment due to alcohol and Marijuana. The parents of each juvenile were contacted and subsequently responded to police headquarters to take custody of their children. The Division of Child Protection and Permanency (formerly known as DYFS) was contacted as well. Officer Michael Verwey, with the assistance of representatives of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, conducted a thorough criminal investigation in the hours and days that followed due to a concern that adults at the residence may have actually engaged in supplying the hard alcoholic beverages (Fireball Whisky & Vodka) as well as allegedly teaching some of the young teens how to smoke Marijuana from a “bong.”The investigation culminated in a search warrant being executed at the residence of Brian Smith and Tammy Smith at 611 Clairmore Avenue in Lanoka Harbor, NJ, during the evening hours of Tuesday, October 21, 2014. Investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office as well as the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU) assisted Officer Verwey with the search warrant execution. Based on information obtained during the investigation and evidence collected at the residence, Officer Michael Verwey arrested 36-year-old Brian Smith and 34-year-old Tammy Smith for 3rd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, 6 Counts of Providing Alcoholic Beverages to Minors, and one count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Judge Damian Murray set bail at $25,000 for Brian Smith and $25,000 for Tammy Smith for the 3rd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child charge. A representative from the Division of Child Protection & Permanency also initiated a continuing investigation into the matter. Both Brian Smith and Tammy Smith were transported to Ocean County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail.

  • Eluding – Wanted Person (Arrest) – On Tuesday, October 21, 2014, at 3:48 a.m., Officer Evan Androcy responded to the area of Aloha Drive in reference to two males in Kayaks paddling in the lagoons appearing to be looking at rear of houses. Officer Androcy observed two males exit the lagoon behind the home located at the northwest end of Aloha Drive. Officer Androcy made contact with one of the males who was later identified as 22-year-old Joshua Allotta of 307 5th Street in Waretown. Joshua Allotta informed Officer Androcy that the other subject fled because he was wanted by Lacey Police on an outstanding criminal arrest warrant. Based on Joshua Allotta’s interaction with Officer Androcy, he was later charged with Hindering the Apprehension of a Wanted Person. Officer Androcy found the other subject, 23-year-old Douglas J. McKee Jr. of 701 Tampa Road in Forked River, hiding in the cold water under a dock in the lagoon. Douglas J. McKee Jr. was arrested on a $100,000 Lacey Township criminal warrant for an eluding incident which occurred in the Bamber Lake section of the Township on Monday, October 6, 2014. Douglas J. McKee Jr. was transported to Lacey Police Headquarters where he was processed and then transported to Community Medical Center for treatment. Douglas J. McKee Jr. was transferred to the custody of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department at Community Medical Center.

  • Fraud – On Tuesday, October 14, 2014, at 5:42 p.m., Officer Kymberly Gudgeon responded to a Pleasantville Court address in reference to a fraud. The homeowner reported that she received a call from a man identifying himself as “David Hunter” from the number (855) 657-0536. The caller told the resident that her niece had been arrested for a hit and run accident and that she needed to send $3,000 cash to bail her out. The resident stated that a woman then got on the phone who sounded just like her niece and requested that she FedEx the cash immediately to a “Michael Stevens” in Bronx, NY. The subjects had contacted FedEx for the resident to schedule a pickup at her residence. FedEx showed up at her door a short time and provided her with a receipt and tracking number for the package. The resident leaned a short time later that her niece had not contacted her and that it was a scam. Officer Gudgeon had the victim contact FedEx immediately to stop the delivery of the package. FedEx was able to track the package down and subsequently return the cash to her a short time later. The NYPD was notified.

  • DUI (Arrest) – On Sunday, October 19, 2014, at 1:49 a.m., Officer Dimitrios Tsarnas conducted a traffic stop on Sunrise Boulevard near Oak Lane in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 39-year-old Tracey Sangemino of Deer Run Drive N in Barnegat, NJ, for DUI. She was transported to police headquarters and processed. Tracey Sangemino was released after receiving traffic summonses for DUI, Reckless Driving, and Failure to Maintain Lane. The vehicle she was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.

  • Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, October 18, 2014, at 8:24 p.m., Officer Evan Androcy conducted a traffic stop on Game Farm Road near Route 9 in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver identified as 23-year-old Blake G. Patrovich of Orlando Drive in Forked River for an outstanding warrant. The warrant was issued from the Lacey Township Municipal Court in the amount of $350. Blake Patrovich was transported to police headquarters and processed. He was released after posting bail. Blake Patrovich also received a traffic summons for driving with a suspended driver’s license.

  • Warrant Arrest – On Saturday, October 18, 2014, at 8:09 p.m., Officer Andrew Slota was on patrol in the area of Lacey Road and Route 9 in Forked River when he observed 25-year-old Vincent G. Maulbeck Jr. walking in the parking lot of Spirit’s Unlimited. Officer Slota believed he had an active warrant for his arrest. Officer Slota learned that Vincent Maulbeck Jr. had a warrant from the Manchester Township Municipal Court in the amount of $439. He was arrested and transported to police headquarters. Vincent Maulbeck Jr. was later turned over to the custody of the Manchester Township Police Department.

  • Theft (Residence) – On Saturday, October 18, 2014, at 6:17 p.m., Officer John D. Simonson responded to police headquarters for a theft report. The victim reported that between 6:15 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Friday, October 17, 2014, an unknown person or persons entered her bedroom and stole approximately $300 in gift cards from her dresser. At the time of the theft the victim was having a party at her residence located on the 200 block of Algonquin Trail in Forked River. The theft is currently under investigation.

  • DUI and Warrant (Arrest) – On Saturday, October 18, 2014, at 8:05 a.m., Officer John Simonson and Michael Eden responded to the Wawa, located at 800 Lacey Road in Forked River, in reference to a suspicious female. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 29-year-old Michelle T. Lobue of Pine Tree Drive in Forked River for DUI. In addition, a warrant was located for her from the Eatontown Municipal Court in the amount of $150. Michelle Lobue was transported to police headquarters and processed. She was later released after receiving traffic summonses for DUI, Reckless Driving, Failure to Exhibit a Driver’s License, and Driving While Suspended. Eatontown Municipal Court provided Michelle Lobue with an ROR. The vehicle Michelle Lobue was operating was impounded pursuant to John’s Law.

  • Drug Possession – On Friday, October 17, 2014, at 8:42 p.m., Officer Dimitrios Tsarnas conducted a traffic stop on Route 9 near Lacey Road in Forked River. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, identified as 27-year-old Luis G. Ortiz of Route 37 West in Toms River, NJ, for Possession of Marijuana. He was transported to police headquarters and processed. Luis Ortiz was released after receiving a criminal summons for Possession of Marijuana. In addition, Luis Ortiz received traffic summonses for Driving While Suspended, CDS in a Motor Vehicle, and for Failing to Exhibit a Valid Insurance Card.

  • Shoplifting – On Friday, October 17, 2014, at 3:13 p.m., Officer John D. Simonson responded to Walmart located at 580 Route 9 North in Lanoka Harbor for two female juvenile shoplifters in custody. Investigation at the scene led to a 14-year-old female juvenile from Lanoka Harbor being taken into custody for allegedly shoplifting merchandise valued at approximately $16.62. Additionally, a second 14-year-old female juvenile from Forked River was taken into custody for allegedly shoplifting additional items as well. Both female juveniles were transported to police headquarters, charged on juvenile complaints with shoplifting, and released to their respective parents.

  • Traffic Accident (Quad) – On Friday, October 17, 2014, at 3:01 p.m., Sergeant Vincent Meehan and Officer Michael Eden responded to Bryant Road in the Bamber Lake section of Lacey Township for a quad accident. The quad operator, identified as 71-year-old Robert Moeller from Brooklyn, NY, was traveling on Bryant Road when he lost control and was ejected into the woods. He suffered head and internal injuries at the scene and was transported by Monoc1 helicopter to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, NJ. The Waretown Fire Department and Monoc paramedics assisted.

  • Traffic Accident (Motorcycle) – On Friday, October 17, 2014, at 2:20 p.m., Officers Michael Eden and Frederick Anderson were dispatched to the 600 block of Lake Barnegat Drive North in Lanoka Harbor for a motorcyclist struck. The investigation revealed that the motorcyclist, identified as 55-year-old Gaetano Papa of Bayville, NJ, was traveling south on Lake Barnegat Drive when he was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound on Lake Barnegat Drive attempting to make a left turn into a driveway. The vehicle was being operated by 52-year-old Elisabeth Henwood of Lanoka Harbor, NJ. The Lanoka Harbor EMS and Monoc paramedics responded to the scene. Gaetano Papa suffered a severe leg/foot injury and was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, NJ, by Lanoka EMS. The Lacey Township Police Accident Investigation Team responded. Officer George Resetar is the investigating officers. The issuance of traffic summonses is pending the conclusion of the investigation.

  • Burglary and Theft – On Thursday, October 16, 2014, at 1:43 p.m., Officer Robert Flynn responded to the 2100 block of Leguene Avenue in Forked River for a theft. The victim reported that between the overnight hours of Wednesday, October 15, 2014, into Thursday, October 16, 2014, an unknown person or persons entered her unlocked garage and stole property including but not limited to an iPhone dock, and iPhone charger, and iPhone headphones with an estimated total value of $130.

  • Warrant Arrest – On Thursday, October 16, 2014, at 1:42 p.m., Officer Anthony Sarno responded to the 1200 block of Ocean Street in Forked River for a dispute. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 22-year-old Zachery Kochel of Illinois Avenue in Waretown, NJ, on two outstanding warrants. The first warrant was a no bail warrant issued from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department and the second warrant was issued from the Pine Beach Municipal Court in the amount of $500. Zachary Kochel was unable to post bail and was lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility.

  • Theft and Criminal Mischief – On Tuesday, October 14, 2014, at 7:11 p.m., Officer Adam Ewart responded to the 500 block of Buttonwood Drive in Lanoka Harbor for reports of theft and criminal mischief. The complainant reported that within the past two weeks, an unknown person or persons slashed the front left tire of his enclosed trailer while it was parked in the driveway of his residence. The damage is valued at $100. Additionally, the complainant stated that within the past year, someone cut the catalytic converters out of the exhaust systems of two of his vehicles while they were parked on his property. Each catalytic convertor was valued at approximately $600. Additionally, an aluminum step ladder valued at $50 and a dolly valued at $300 were also reported stolen. The total value of stolen property is estimated at $1,550.