PLUMSTED — An incident involving firearms led to the lockdown of Plumsted school district on the morning of Oct. 5. The report of shots being fired also caused the New Egypt Flea Market Village on Route 537 to be evacuated.
Two men were subsequently arrested and charged for their alleged roles in the incident.
According to police, a dispute between Craig Roberts, 28, of Upper Freehold Township, and John McDonaugh, 20, of the Columbus section of Mansfield Township, led to shots being fired in Roberts’ apartment at 49 Holmes Mill Road, Upper Freehold Township, at about 8 a.m.
The location is near the border of Upper Freehold Township and Plumsted. Holmes Mill Road becomes Evergreen Road in Plumsted at the intersection of Route 537.
“This happened right at the border of our town. The situation was taken very seriously,” Committeeman Eric Sorchik said during a meeting of the Plumsted Township Committee on the evening of Oct. 5.
Immediately after the shots were fired, Roberts and McDonaugh fled the house, according to the New Jersey State Police, who handled the case. A stockpile of weapons was located near the residence. Two cases containing firearms were recovered by state troopers.
According to police, the cases contained two handguns, six assorted long guns (rifles and shotguns) and one AK-47 assault rifle. A sawed-off shotgun and weapons that had their serial numbers defaced were among those found.
Both men were arrested. Neither man was armed at the time the arrests were made. State police believe some of the weapons can be linked to a North Hanover break-in and theft that occurred last month.
An undisclosed amount of a substance believed to be OxyContin was found in the apartment on Holmes Mill Road during an investigation. Police said homegrown marijuana plants were also uncovered.
The four schools in Plumsted remained locked down until 10:30 a.m., when police reported that the two men were in custody.
“We were working in conjunction with the police. We received word there was a potential threat in the area and that we should go into lockdown,” Plumsted Superintendent of Schools Karen Jones said.
Plumsted police said the school district did not face an imminent threat, but did say the lockdown was a precaution.
“Everybody did what they had to do. All the staff has been practicing for these kinds of things and everybody was accounted for. We do safety drills on a regular basis,” Jones said.
Roberts was charged with aggravated assault, making terroristic threats, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and defacement of a weapon.
Police said additional charges against Roberts are pending.
Roberts was placed in the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, with bail set at $100,000, cash only.
McDonaugh was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, receiving stolen property and eluding police. He was placed in the Monmouth County jail with bail set at $50,000, with a 10 percent option.
Contact Andrew Martins at [email protected].