Weekly Police Blotter

Burglary- On Thursday, May 14, 2020, at 12:10 p.m., Officer John Simonson responded to a Crestwood Drive home for a reported burglary.   The victim reported that during an unknown time frame a window of the home was pried open allowing entry.  The home was vacant at the time of the burglary.

Arrest- On Friday, May 15, 2020, at 4:54 p.m., officers responded to Crestwood Drive after a suspicious vehicle was seen in the driveway of a recently burglarized vacant home.  Detectives located the vehicle and conducted a stop after it left the area.  During the stop, the driver, later identified as Esly Peters, refused to comply with officer instructions and was placed under arrest.  Peters, 48, was charged with Obstructing the Administration of Law, Resisting Arrest, and Trespassing after it was determined that he had entered the fenced portion of the residence.  Peters was released on his own recognizance pending a Court appearance.

Fire- On Friday, May 15, 2020, at 5:37 p.m., Officer Bruce Carver responded to Constitution Drive for the report of a bathroom fire.  The home sustained minor damage and the fire was ruled accidental as it originated inside the bathroom exhaust fan.

Arrest- On Saturday, May 16, 2020, at 8:44 a.m., Officers Jesse Dalziel and Noah Schaffer were alerted by a citizen that a subject parked on the shoulder of Laurel Boulevard appeared under the influence.  Officers discovered Brian Smith, 32, of Bloomsbury, New Jersey parked in front of a Laurel Boulevard home.  While speaking with Smith, officers discovered several different types of narcotics including prescription medication and marijuana.  Smith was placed under arrest and charged with the same prior to being released on his own recognizance.

DWI- On Saturday, May 16, 2020, at 10:01 p.m., Officers Brian Holt and Bruce Carver were dispatched to a Laurel Boulevard home in reference to a hit and run accident.  The caller reported that a passing vehicle struck his parked vehicle located on the shoulder of the road.  The collision caused damage to driver’s side of the parked vehicle and a hubcap was found at the scene from the second vehicle.  Officers located the second vehicle at the intersection of Route 9 and Laurel Boulevard and determined that the driver was under the influence.  Robert Ross, 60, was charged with DWI, Failing to Submit to Breath Samples, Reckless Driving, Failure to Report an Accident, and Leaving the Scene of an Accident.  Ross was released pending a Court date.

Arrest- On Sunday, May 17, 2020, at 12:52 p.m., Officer Noah Schaffer arrested Destiny Allen at a Lanoka Harbor residence.  The arrest was made in connection with an outstanding Warren County warrant.  Allen, 26, was lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility without bail.

Fraud- On Monday, May 18, 2020, at 5:08 p.m., Officer Michael Hein took a fraud report from a Lanoka Harbor resident.  The victim reported that while reviewing her bank statements she noticed three unauthorized charges.  It appeared that her debit card was used on three separate occasions in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania totaling $523.  The victim conveyed that she had not been in Pennsylvania and was still in possession of her debit card.

Fire- On Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 2:00 p.m., Officer Matthew D’Antonio responded to a brush fire on West Lacey Road.  The fire, which consumed approximately ½ acre, was extinguished by the Forked River Fire Department and NJ State Fire Forest Service.

MV Accident- On Thursday, April 30, 2020, at 4:00 p.m., officers responded to a wooded area near Eno’s Park in reference to an injury.  Officers discovered that two juveniles riding a quad lost control and collided with a tree.  Both victims were transported to hospitals for non-threatening injuries.

Arrest- On the afternoon of Friday, May 1, 2020, detectives arrested Jeni McDaniel in reference to a theft.  The case originated on March 15, 2020 when a Forked River resident reported losing her purse and wallet at TJ Maxx.  The investigation revealed that McDaniel was responsible for removing the purse and it’s contents from the store after finding it ultimately leading to her arrest.  In addition to the criminal charge of theft, McDaniel was wanted by three jurisdictions including Lacey, Trenton, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department for outstanding warrants.  The warrants totaled $6,000.  McDaniel was lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility.

DWI- On Saturday, May 2, 2020, at 8:25 p.m., Officer Scott Keefe conducted a motor vehicle stop on Challenger Way.  During the stop, the driver was determined to be under the influence and arrested.  Jonathan Laureigh, 22, was charged with DWI and Reckless Driving.

Dispute- On Sunday, May 3, 2020, at 3:46 p.m., Officer Alan Abrecht took a report involving an altercation.  The caller reported that he and his wife were threatened by three male subjects during a dispute over a traffic issue.  The matter is under further investigation.

DWI- On Sunday, May 3, 2020, at 10:01 p.m., Officers Patrick Watkins and Michael Hein responded to the Laurel Boulevard area for a possible dispute.  Officers located a vehicle suspected to be involved and made a motor vehicle stop on Lawrence Drive.  After further investigation, the driver, Ashlynn Kicki, was arrested for DWI.  Kicki, 26, was charged with DWI and Reckless Driving.

Attempted Burglary- On Monday, May 4, 2020, at 12:45 p.m., Officer Alan Abrecht met with a Forked River business owner who reported an attempted burglary at his business.  The victim reported that on Saturday, May 2^nd, a sole male suspect damaged his building and attempted to break in.  The footage was used to quickly identify the actor as a local juvenile.

Arrest- On Monday, May 4, 2020, at 1:53 p.m., dispatch received a call from employees of Chase Bank in reference to a threatening customer.  Bank staff reported that after the suspect left the drive thru, he came into the foyer and was threatening to kill the employees.  Officer Jason Lee arrived and witnessed the suspect, Thomas Vance, 41, driving recklessly from the parking lot.  During a traffic stop on Eagleswood Place, Vance was arrested for DWI.  Vance was ultimately charged with DWI, Reckless Driving, Terroristic Threats, and False Public Alarm.  Vance was transported to the Ocean County Correctional Facility in accordance with bail reform.

DWI- On Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at 6:50 p.m., officers along with the Forked River Fire Department responded to a reported motor vehicle accident on Route 9 near Oyster Creek.  The driver, Robert Ewan, apparently left the roadway striking a utility pole.  Ewan, who was uninjured, was placed under arrest after officers deemed he was under the influence. He was charged with DWI and Reckless Driving.

Threats- On Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at 9:04 p.m., Officer Patrick Watkins met with a Forked River resident in reference to threats.  The female caller stated that while walking on Conifer Drive she passed three men conversing in front of a residence.  As she passed, a comment was made toward her about not wearing a mask.  One of the men reportedly made a threatening gesture.  The men were identified and denied the allegation.

Burglary- On Tuesday, May 5, 2020, Officer Matthew D’Antonio took four separate reports in reference to vehicle burglaries.  Each victim, all who reside in the Oakfield section of Lanoka Harbor, reported that their unlocked vehicles were entered during the early morning hours of Monday, May 4^th.  Victims reported personal items and cash stolen.  Any residents in the area with information should contact Detective Brian Flynn.

Fire- On Wednesday, May 6, 2020, at 8:15 a.m., Officer Noah Schaffer and members of the Forked River Fire Department responded to a Commodore Drive home in reference to a fire.  A small fire that originated at the outside of the residence damaged the vinyl siding but no structural damage occurred.  The Ocean County Fire Marshal deemed the incident accidental.

Arrest- On Thursday, April 23, 2020, at 11:40 a.m., Officers Randolph Plis and John Simonson responded to Sherwin Williams, 709 Route 9 North, for a report of a theft.   The manager reported that an Apple iPad was stolen from the store and suspected an employee.  Investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the employee, Edmarie Alvarado, 29.  Alvarado was charged with Theft of Moveable Property and released on her own recognizance pending a Court appearance.  The theft was valued at $619.

Obstructing- On Friday, April 24, 2020, at 7:33 p.m., officers responded to a Buena Vista Road residence for a report of an unwanted guest.  While officers were on scene, the caller, Matthew Madelino, 29, began throwing items belonging to the visitor outside.  After being asked to stop by the officers, Madelino continued.  Officer Scott Keefe issued Madelino a summons for Obstructing the Administration of Law.

Arrest- On Saturday, April 25, 2020, at 9:36 p.m., Officers Robert Duffy and Patrick Watkins responded to the Lacey Inn for a report of a dispute.  While there, officers arrested Savannah Banks, 22.  During her arrest, Banks became uncooperative and spit at officers.  Banks was charged with Throwing Bodily Fluid at Police and lodged in the Ocean County Correctional Facility without bail.

Theft- On Monday, April 27, 2020, at 4:36 p.m., Officer Elton Copes took a report from the victim of a theft.  The caller reported that she is in the process of moving into a Hillside Drive residence.  During the move she noticed that various items had been stolen from her moving boxes.  The items are valued at $110.

Fraud- On Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 4:03 p.m., Officer Bruce Carver met with a Forked River resident in reference to fraudulent activity.  The victim reported that she received a letter from Discover Card in reference to her recent application.  The victim contacted Discover and was told that an application was filed online using her name, date of birth, and social security number.