Weekly Police Blotter – Press Release
September 23rd, thru September 29th, 2014
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Terroristic Threats & False Public Alarm – On Sunday, September 28, 2014, at 12:55 p.m., Officer Kymberly Gudgeon, Officer Anthony Sarno, and Lieutenant Christopher Kenny responded to a residence on Manchester Avenue in the Forked River section of the township in reference to a 52-year-old adult male who had reportedly taken an excessive amount of Xanax and was being aggressive. Upon arrival of the officers, the subject was located inside a bus with blacked-out windows parked on the side of the property. Upon the officers attempting to approach the bus, the man became aggressive and threatened to shoot the officers. The subject appeared to be holding his hands in a shooting position and continuously pointed at the officers yelling that he had a gun and was going to shoot the officers. The officers immediately took a tactical position of cover and started a dialogue with the subject who continued his aggressive and threatening behavior. The subject became even more frustrated and then grabbed a metal box with a cord and what appeared to be a handle with a button. The subject then told the officers that he had wired the bus and the house with explosives and he was going to blow them up. The subject held the handle and cord in his hand as if it was a detonator switch. The officers continued to maintain a dialogue with the subject until he became even more frustrated and exited the bus and moved aggressively towards the officers. During the incident, it was unknown if the subject possessed the weapons, but the officers believed the man was attempting to force the officers to shoot him. Once the man emerged from the bus and moved aggressively toward the officers, Lieutenant Kenny was able to deploy OC (Oleoresin Capsicum – Pepper) spray to bring the subject under control. He was immediately handcuffed and treated for the exposure to the OC spray. He was then transported to Community Medical Center for psychological evaluation and care. He was later charged with terroristic threats, false public alarms, and disorderly conduct. No weapon or explosives were found at the scene. The officers involved are each being commended for demonstrating tremendous restraint and professionalism during the stressful incident.
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Drug Paraphernalia & Warrant Arrests – On Monday, September 29, 2014, at 1:30 p.m., Officer Kymberly Gudgeon and Officer Robert Flynn responded to Walmart, 580 Route 9, Lanoka Harbor, in reference to people who had reportedly been in a car in the parking lot for several days. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 22-year-old Patrick Newman of Bainbridge Island, Washington, on a $350 Berkeley Township Municipal Court traffic warrant and a $500 Jackson Township Municipal Court traffic warrant. Julia Hunter, 27, of 33 Korman Road Apt. 8A in Bayville, NJ, was also arrested on a $351 Toms River Township Municipal Court criminal warrant and a $750 Cream Ridge Municipal Court traffic warrant. Upon arresting the subjects, officers recovered a hypodermic syringe and empty heroin wax folds. Both suspects were transported to Lacey Police Headquarters where they were processed and each charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Both suspects were then transported to the Ocean County Jail in default of bail.
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Criminal Mischief & Theft from a Vehicle –On Monday, September 29, 2014, at 8:41 a.m., Officer Kymberly Gudgeon responded to Christopher’s Auto Sales, located at 309 Route 9 North in Forked River, in reference to thefts from several vehicles. The owner reported that between 6:00 p.m. on September 28, 2014 and 8:00 a.m. on September 29, 2014, three vehicles were damaged and unlawfully entered. A UD 1800 flatbed truck had the rear, passenger-side, cab window smashed out and the Panasonic stereo stolen. A silver Nissan Sentra had one of its rear windows smashed out and the radio had been attempted to be removed without success. A yellow Dodge Dakota pickup had one of its rear windows smashed, but it did not appear as if the actor(s) attempted to remove the radio. The damage was estimated at $650 and the stolen radio was estimated at $200.
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Drug Possession (Arrest) – On Monday, September 29, 2014, at 12:17 a.m., Officer Michael Verwey observed a vehicle traveling east on Lacey Road that failed to dim high beams to oncoming traffic. Officer Verwey followed the vehicle and observed the vehicle swerve over the center line of the roadway. Officer Verwey stopped the vehicle, a gold Saturn, on Manchester Avenue near Lacey Road. Upon speaking with the driver, 18-year-old Emily L. Burke of Cape May Avenue in Bayville, Officer Verwey detected the odor of Marijuana in the vehicle. Investigation at the scene led to the discovery of four clear Zip lock bags containing Marijuana, one glass smoking device containing suspected burnt marijuana resin, one metal pipe containing suspected marijuana resin, and a 7/32 socket attached to a water bottle used as an improvised smoking device also containing suspected marijuana resin. Emily Burke was placed under arrest and transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where she was processed and released on a summons. Emily Burke was charged with possession of Marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Emily Burke was also issued motor vehicle summonses for possession of CDS in a motor vehicle, failure to maintain lane, and failure to dim high beam headlights.
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DUI (Arrest) – On Saturday, September 27, 2014, at 12:39 a.m., Officer Dimitrios Tsarnas stopped a motor vehicle on Route 9 near the intersection of First Street after observing the vehicle crossing the fog line and center line of the roadway. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of 57-year-old Robert Jankowski of Coolidge Place in Paramus, NJ, for DUI. The vehicle was impounded pursuant to John’s Law. Robert Jankowski was charged with DUI, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane and failure to observe traffic signal.
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DUI and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Arrest) – On Friday, September 26, 2014, at 11:03 p.m., Officer Michael Verwey conducted a stop of a motor vehicle at Route 9 near the intersection of Lacey Road for speeding and failing to maintain a lane of travel. Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the driver, 49-year-old Andrew J. Grogan III of Nantucket Road in Forked River for DUI. Upon arrest, officers recovered a small pipe containing suspected burnt Marijuana resin and a Marijuana grinder. Andrew Grogan III was transported to Lacey Police Headquarters where he was processed and issued motor vehicle summonses for DUI, refusal to submit breath tests, reckless driving, speeding, failure to maintain lane, and failure to dim high-beam headlights. Andrew Grogan III was also issued a summons for possession of drug paraphernalia.
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Warrant Arrest – On Thursday, September 26, 2014, at 9:51 p.m., Officer Noah Schaffer was on patrol when he observed a vehicle traveling West on Lacey Road that was erratically changing lanes multiple times and passing the surrounding vehicles in an aggressive and careless manner. Officer Schaffer stopped the vehicle in the Wawa parking lot, located at 800 Lacey Road in Forked River. The registration of the vehicle came back “not on file” and it was discovered that the license plate did not belong on the vehicle and the vehicle was not registered. Further investigation led to the arrest of the driver, 19-year-old John Giberson of Starboard Way in Waretown, New Jersey, on two outstanding warrants. The first warrant was a $500 Lacey Township Municipal Court traffic warrant and the second warrant was a $500 Stafford Township Municipal Court traffic warrant. The vehicle was impounded for not being registered. John Giberson was transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters where he was processed and issued motor vehicle summons form driving while suspended, careless driving, unregistered vehicle, fictitious plates, and failure to exhibit insurance card. John Giberson was not able to post bail and was transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility.
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Shoplifting (Arrest) – On Friday, September 26, 2014, at 9:14 p.m., Officer Andrew Slota and Officer George Resetar responded to Walmart, located at 580 Route 9 North, Lanoka Harbor, in reference to a report of shoplifting. The Asset Protection Manager reported that he observed a female conceal several items inside her purse and then observed her try to exit the store without paying for those items. The suspect, 47-year-old Toni Valente of Roger Road in Forked River, was arrested and transported to Lacey Police Headquarters where she was processed and released on a summons. Toni Valente was charged with shoplifting a black Goody Paddle hair brush, a black con air hair brush, two pair ladies underwear, and a camouflage tee shirt with a total value of $22.54.
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Suspicious Incident – On Thursday, September 26, 2014, at 6:32 p.m., a Jacqueline Court resident reported that she received a suspicious phone call from a subject that attempted to solicit money from her. The subject told her that her grandson was arrested by the Lacey Township Police and he needed bail money. The resident did not provide any information to the caller and then contacted this agency. It was determined to be scam and a police report was completed regarding the incident.
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Underage Consumption of Alcohol (Formal Charge) – On Thursday, September 25, 2014, at 9:51 p.m., Officer Michael Verwey responded to a Sunrise Boulevard address in reference to an alleged robbery. A 17-year-old male reported that he and his friends were at Spirits Unlimited, located at 3 Lacey Road in Forked River, trying to convince liquor store patrons to purchase them alcohol. The juvenile stated that a patron purchased them Vodka. The juvenile stated that after receiving the vodka, he attempted to make a phone call and was then reportedly punched by a subject named “Scooby.” The juvenile continued by stating that the subject then stole his cell phone. Upon further questioning by Officer Verwey, the juvenile recanted his story and admitted to losing his cell phone and that he made up the story to avoid being in trouble with his father. Officer Verwey observed that the juvenile was displaying signs of alcohol intoxication. The juvenile and his father were advised that he is being charged on a juvenile complaint with underage consumption of alcohol.
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Vehicle Fire – On Wednesday, September 25, 2014, at 12:07 a.m., Officer Evan Androcy responded to Route 539, between mile marker 20 and mile marker 21, in reference to a car fire. Manchester Police and Manchester volunteer fire department were already on scene attending to the incident. The 2000 Pontiac Grand Am was fully engulfed and damaged a telephone pole. No injuries were reported. JCP&L responded to the scene regarding the damaged utility pole.
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Shoplifting (Arrest) – On Wednesday, September 24, 2014, Officer John Simonson, responded to Walmart, 580 Route 9, Lanoka Harbor, in reference to shoplifting. The loss prevention employee reported that he observed two males put packages of Pokemon cards in their pockets and then attempt to leave the store without paying for the items. Tyler Morong, 18, of Cornelius Street in Bayville was found to have 3 packages of cards in his possession valued at $12.54 and 18-year-old Kyle M. Wilson of Brooks Avenue in Bayville was found to have 9 packages of cards in his possession valued at $37.62. Tyler Morong and Kyle Wilson were both placed under arrest and transported to Lacey Township Police Headquarters. Both suspects were processed, charged with shoplifting, and released on summonses.
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Traffic Accident – On Tuesday, September 23, 2014, at 2:05 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Lacey Road and Newark Avenue in reference to a downed utility pole. Investigation at the scene indicated that while installing a sign on the property of 933 Lacey Road, a bucket truck pulled down overhead wires from a utility pole, causing the wires and the pole to fall into the roadway. Two vehicles parked in the parking lot sustained damage as a result of the falling wires. The roadway was closed and traffic was detoured into the Pines Section for 5 hours until the utility pole could be replaced.