HAZLET A Little Egg Harbor man was arrested for allegedly burglarizing various properties, at 5:32 a.m. on Oct.27, at the Shore Point Inn’s parking lot, on 3360 Route 35.
The suspect is reportedly being charged with 10 counts of burglary, two counts of theft of motor vehicle, criminal trespass, theft of moveable property, aggravated assault on a police officer, eluding, hindering apprehension, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and numerous motor vehicle offenses, according to police.
On Oct. 27, police were on the lookout for the suspect when they observed a suspicious vehicle around 3:02 a.m. in the area of Knoll Terrace, according to a prepared statement from the Hazlet Police Department.
Patrolman Robert Dickens attempted to stop the vehicle when the driver decided to flee. The driver turned onto Jane Place, which is a cul de sac, then turned around and struck three vehicles including Dickens’ police car. He drove over a lawn to avoid apprehension and it was then that officers could identify him as the suspect, according to a prepared statement from the police Department.
The vehicle then turned down Crestview Drive, which is another cul de sac, and the driver continued into a resident’s backyard and crashed the vehicle into a swimming pool. He then fled on foot. At least 15 officers set up a perimeter and Dickens and Patrolman Kevin Geoghan deployed their K-9 dogs, according to a prepared statement from the police department.
They conducted an exhaustive search for nearly two and a half hours with numerous other officers and at 5:32 a.m. Detective Nicolas Logothetis and Lt. Chris Acevedo apprehended the suspect as he attempted to make his way back to the Shore Point Inn where he was staying. It was found that the vehicle the suspect was driving was stolen from a house he burglarized earlier in the night on Sixth Street in Hazlet, according to police.
He is also a suspect of interest for burglaries in Aberdeen, Middletown, and Atlantic Highlands. The suspect is being held at Monmouth County Jail, according to Lt. Scott Mura.
He was charged with burglarizing residences on Roosevelt Avenue, Sixth Street, and trespassing on Windflower Court, according to a prepared statement from the police department.
The police department’s Detective Bureau executed a search warrant on his room at the Shore Point Inn where he was staying. By the end of the day, they were able to charge the suspect with eight additional burglaries. He was charged with burglaries on Bucknell Drive, two at Maple Drive, Northfield Court, Indian Hill Court, and Rutgers Street, according to a prepared statement from the police.
It was later discovered that while officers were searching for him on foot, he broke into residences on Moak Drive and Meadow Court to try and evade capture, according to police.
According to Lt. Robert Mulligan, the suspect was charged with burglary and criminal trespassing for breaking into Moak Drive and Meadow Court during the chase.
He was also charged with receiving stolen property for items in his possession taken from Middletown and possession of a controlled dangerous substance, according to police.
This investigation was aided by detectives from Atlantic Highlands, Aberdeen, and Middletown who added crucial information. Also the cooperation from some of the victims and residents who helped provide important evidence and information, according to a prepared statement from the police department.
For more information visit the Hazlet Police Department’s Facebook page.
Contact Vashti Harris at [email protected].