Federal authorities recently arrested an Asbury Park man who was wanted in connection with the death of a Howell resident at a party in Toms River.
Matthew Hoskins, 22, was arrested without incident by the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force in East Orange in the early morning hours of Feb. 16 at a family member’s house, Toms River Police Chief Michael G. Mastronardy said.
He is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River, in lieu of $500,000 bail, the chief said.
Hoskins was wanted in connection with the Jan. 30 death of Howell resident Milton Love Jr. Police believe Hoskins is the suspect who punched Love once in the head outside a Romana Drive, Toms River, home where a graduation party for Love’s cousin was being held.
The Ocean County Medical Examiner’s office ruled Love’s death was a homicide.
The party that ended in Love’s death began at about 9 p.m. Jan. 29. Mastronardy has said problems began when two women showed up at the party with four males at about 11 p.m.
A fight over a bottle of liquor someone removed from the home broke out around 1 a.m. Love was punched once in the head and collapsed. He never regained consciousness. Love was taken to Community Medical Center, Toms River, where he was pronounced dead.
Also participating in the arrest of Hoskins were Monmouth County Sheriff’s Officer Dave Wentworth, New Jersey State Police Officer Jon Hayes, Asbury Park Patrolman Keith Finklestein, Robert Hayes of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Officers Robert Trainer and Timothy Duffy, Mastronardy said.
In February, police charged Anna Knutstad, 21, of Spring Lake, with hindering a criminal investigation. Mastronardy has said Knutstad declined to cooperate with the investigation into Love’s death.
The investigation is continuing, he said.