Lakewood teen charged in assault of city woman

Man observed carrying purse on Bath Ave. fled when approached by police

BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

Lakewood teen charged
in assault of city woman

Man observed carrying purse on Bath Ave. fled when approached by police

BY CHRISTINE VARNO

Staff Writer

LONG BRANCH — A Lakewood teen was arrested last week for the assault and robbery of a city resident who was walking to catch a train.

Justin Whitley, 18, is being charged with one count of robbery by force, and his bail was set at $10,000 by Long Branch Municipal Court Judge George Cieri.

On May 25 at 11:20 a.m., Detective Charles Simonelli was operating an unmarked police vehicle in the area of Bath and Indiana avenues when he observed a black male in his late teens walking west on Bath Avenue holding a pocketbook. According to Simonelli’s report, Whitley was looking nervously behind him, police spokesperson Lt. Detective Bruce Johantgen said.

Simonelli pulled over to speak to the male who fled on foot behind the buildings on West Avenue.

Simonelli pursued and apprehended Whitley, and, when he radioed headquarters to report the foot pursuit, he learned that multiple 911 calls had been made regarding an incident that took place behind Rose Garden Apartments on the corner of Bath and Third avenues.

A 42-year-old female resident of Bath Avenue had been located by Officer John Evangelho, and she was said to be visibly upset and bleeding from her right arm, according to Johantgen.

She told officers she was assaulted while walking to the train station on Bath Avenue on a path behind the Rose Garden Apartments, which is a frequently used as a shortcut to the station, according to Johantgen.

She said she was grabbed from behind and dragged on the ground for a short distance, and then her assailant took off toward Bath Avenue with her purse.

The woman and other witnesses identified Whitley as her attacker, and he was placed under arrest and transported to headquarters for processing.

The victim was taken to the emergency room at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, where she was treated for a fractured arm, and minor scratches and bruises.

Detective Scott Beaver of the department’s forensics unit is assisting the department in the investigation.