Weekly Police Blotter

Theft- On Thursday, April 29, 2021, at 9:44 a.m., Officer Michael Hutman responded to an Ambermist Way construction site for a theft report. The victim reported that during the overnight hours unknown suspects stole 20 lengths of PVC pipe.

Stolen Vehicle- After a vehicle was reported stolen on Thursday, April 29, 2021 from a Lacey commercial lot, Neptune Police recovered the vehicle.  A Neptune officer conducted a motor vehicle stop on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 after the vehicle was identified as stolen.  The driver of the vehicle, Johnnie McLean, 30, was arrested for possession of the stolen vehicle and numerous drug offenses.

Shoplifting- On Thursday, April 29, 2021, at 2:53 p.m., Officer Michael Hutman was dispatched to Walmart in reference to a shoplifting.  Loss Prevention reported that Joseph Butala, Jr., attempted to leave the store with merchandise valued at $250.  Butala was arrested and charged with Shoplifting prior to being released on his own recognizance.

Fraud- On Friday, April 30, 2021, at 11:47 a.m., Officer Michael Hutman met with a Township resident reporting a theft.  The victim stated that she was contacted by Cyber Security advising her of fraudulent activity on her accounts.  The victim was convinced to allow the caller access to her computer and to purchase gift cards as payment.  The caller purchased an amount of gift cards and provided the caller with the codes prior to realizing that incident was fraudulent.

Theft- On Sunday, May 2, 2021, at 6:12 p.m., a Railroad Avenue resident report a theft from his property.  The caller stated that he had four vehicle rims posted for sale in front of his home when they were stolen.  The suspect reportedly drove a light-colored SUV.

DWI- On Monday, May 3, 2021, at 1:30 a.m., Officer Anthony Sarno conducted a motor vehicle stop.  During the stop, it was determined that the driver, Morgan Hardie, 26, was under the influence.  Hardie was arrested and charged with DWI and Reckless Driving.

Theft- On Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at 6:59 p.m., officers responded to the Lacey Laundromat for a reported theft.  The caller described that the laundromat was occupied by two separate parties, a sole man and two females.  After the two females left the business while their clothes remained, the male suspect stole items of their clothing.  The female victims returned and confirmed three pair of women’s underwear missing.  The suspect could not be located.

Internet Fraud- On Sunday, April 25, 2021, at 8:02 p.m., Officer Dallas Gant met with a Township resident in reference to suspicious messages.  The victim reported that he was threatened by an unknown person that explicit photos would be released unless their demands were met.  This appears to be part of an ongoing scam thought to originate outside of the United States.

Fire- On Monday, April 26, 2021, at 4:59 p.m., officers were dispatched to Devoe Street for a structure fire.  Members of the Forked River Fire Department were the first to arrive at the scene and discovered fire at the rear of the home.  The fire spread from the back wall into the attic prior to being brought under control by firefighters.  The home suffered severe damage.

Fraud- On Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at 3:29 p.m., Officer Alan Abrecht met with a Forked River resident reporting an Internet scam.  The victim reported that an unknown suspect created an Internet sales account through Facebook listing him as the owner of the account.  Excessive sales were made, as far away as Canada, none of which was filled.  The victim is now receiving calls concerning the sales, some threatening.

Criminal Mischief- On Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at 4:20 a.m., Officer Bruce Carver responded to 7-11, 403 Route 9, in reference to damage.  The store clerk reported that two men entered the store inquiring about Western Union.  When they were advised that the system was inoperable, one suspect punched the glass door causing it to crack.  The suspects fled on foot prior to Officer Carver’s arrival.

MV Theft- On Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., Officer Alan Abrecht met with a complainant reporting the theft of her rental vehicle.  The victim stated that she parked the vehicle, a Nissan Versa, in a Route 9 commercial parking lot near 7:00 a.m.  Upon returning, the vehicle was missing.  Surveillance video is being sought.

Fraud- On Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at 2:07 p.m., Officer Jason Lee was dispatched to TD Bank for fraud.  The branch manager reported that a customer entered the branch attempting to get a replacement debit card.  After not being able to answer security questions the subject was turned away.  It was later discovered that the attempt was made at several branches and that the suspect was was thought to be impersonating account holders.

DWI- On Thursday, April 15, 2021, at 5:00 p.m., two members of the detective bureau discovered an adult male under the influence off the shoulder of Route 9.  The male, who was operating a motor vehicle, was ultimately placed under arrest for DWI.  James Hatch, 43, was charged with DWI and Reckless Driving prior to being released.

Arrests- On Saturday, April 17, 2021, at 6:20 p.m., officers were dispatched to the Captain’s Inn for a disturbance.  Upon arriving, officers discovered that two Ocean County Sheriff’s Officers were already on scene.  The disturbance allegedly began when a patron, George Monith, was asked to leave for not wearing a mask.  The sheriff’s officers, who were in the area conducting business checks, observed the disturbance and stopped to assist at which time one officer was shoved by Kimberly Monith.  Kimberly was placed under arrest and transported to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.  George Monith continued to be unruly leading to his arrest by Lacey officers.  George Monith was charged with Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest prior to being released on his own recognizance.  Kimberly Monith was also released after being processed.

Fraud- On Monday, April 19, 2021, at 10:04 a.m., Officer Kymberly Gudgeon met with a Lanoka Harbor resident in reference to identity theft.  The victim was notified by his employer that an unknown person used his personal information to file an unemployment claim.  The incident is being forwarded to the Social Security Administration for review.

Theft- On Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at 4:48 p.m., Officer Andrew Slota took a theft report from a Lanoka Harbor resident.  The victim reported that after having a passenger in his vehicle he realized that his prescription medication and debit card were missing.  The suspect was not located.

Arrest- On Thursday, April 8, 2021, at 6:42 p.m., officers responded to a Penn Avenue residence.  While there, an occupant of the home, Andrew Lupton, was placed under arrest.  Lupton was charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe.  During his arrest, Lupton bit an officer leading to additional charges of Resisting Arrest and Aggravated Assault.  During processing at headquarters, Lupton damaged property leading to a Criminal Mischief charge.  He was lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility without bail.

Theft- On Saturday, April 10, 2021, at 9:51 p.m., Officer Martin Julian was dispatched to a Cranberry Hill residence in reference to a theft.  The homeowner reported that unknown suspects entered the unoccupied home stealing items from the garage.  The stolen items, valued at $12,000, included bicycles, tools, computers, and stereo equipment.

Burglary- On Sunday, April 11, 2021, at 3:03 a.m., Officers Robert Duffy and Martin Julian were dispatched to Medicine to Go for an audible alarm.  Upon arriving, officers discovered that the front glass was shattered.  Surveillance video depicted a suspect approaching the window and throwing a large rock into the store’s interior.  The subject fled on foot when the alarm sounded.  Detective Brian Flynn is conducting an investigation.

Burglary- On Sunday, April 11, 2021, at 9:28 a.m., Officer Alan Abrecht took a burglary report from a Tappan Street resident.  The victim stated that during the overnight hours, an unknown suspect(s) entered his unlocked vehicle stealing items from within.  The victim further added that the license plates of the vehicle were stolen along with a license plate from another vehicle on the property.

Arrest- On Monday, April 12, 2021, Detective Adam Ewart charged Andrew Lupton with shoplifting.  The charge was prepared after Lupton was identified as the actor during a theft at Home Depot in January.  Lupton was served with the complaint while incarcerated at the Ocean County Correctional Facility.

Dispute- On Friday, April 2, 2021, at 11:50 a.m., officers were dispatched to a Lacey Road parking lot for a report of two males fighting.  Officers found that two deliverymen were involved in an argument but never turned physical.  Both subjects were released without charges.

Theft- On Friday, April 2, 2021, at 9:00 p.m., a Forked River Beach resident reported that a package was stolen from his front porch.  The victim reported that the Amazon delivery was taken during overnight hours.

Fire- On Saturday, April 3, 2021, at 10:34 a.m., Officer Matthew D’Antonio responded to a Sunset Drive residence for a house fire.  It appeared that while an occupant of the home was cooking a grease fire began and spread to the kitchen window curtains.  The fire was extinguished by the occupant prior to severe damage.  The Forked River Fire Department assisted by ventilated the home to remove excessive smoke.

Arrest- On Saturday, April 3, 2021, at 1:02 p.m., officers responded to Walmart in reference to a suspicious male.  Officers located Brian Langan, 51, who appeared intoxicated, inside the men’s room.  Investigation revealed that Brian was under the influence from inhaling chemicals.  Brian was charged with Being Under the Influence and Inhaling a Toxic Chemical.

MV- Accident- On Sunday, April 4, 2021, at 12:38 a.m., a vehicle traveling south on Route 9 near Laurel Boulevard left the roadway and struck a utility pole.  The driver, a 26 year-old Bayville woman, was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries.  Traffic was altered while Verizon replaced the pole.

Theft- On Monday, April 5, 2021, at 11:01 a.m., Officer John Simonson responded to Family Dollar in reference to a theft.  The caller, an employee of Coca-Cola, explained that while completing an in-store audit and unknown suspect stole his jacket.  The jacket reportedly contained a Samsung cell phone and the victim’s vehicle keys.  The theft is valued at $1,500.

Threats- On Monday, April 5, 2021, at 7:53 p.m., Officer Anthony Ravallo met with a Forked River resident reporting threats.  The victim stated that her family has been receiving multiple threats through Snapchat and a blocked caller.  An investigation to identify the number is being conducted.