Crime & Safety

Burglary Arrest After Suspect Attempts Rooftop Escape from Hotel Room

Police chase man around Route 37 hotel and find him heading in resident's shed

A Manchester man led police on a chase from a third-floor hotel room window onto a roof before fleeing over fences and hiding in a residential shed off Route 37 yesterday. Police apprehended the man, who was wanted for a Toms River burglary, police said.

Toms River Police arrived at the Comfort Inn on Route 37 in Toms River on suspicion that a burglary suspect was staying in a room there. Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said an Oct. 2 burglary of a California Avenue home had a man forcibly remove a section of fence and enter through a kitchen window to steal $1,000 in jewelry.

Mastronardy said that from security footage from the home, police identified the man who allegedly burglarized the home, and Toms River Det. Marc Bajada secured a warrant for the arrest of Ahmid Fisher, 20, of Manchester.

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"Sergeant Keith Diehl and numerous other Toms River officers went to the Comfort Inn after receiving information that Mr. Fisher was staying at a room at the Route #37 hotel," Mastronardy said in an email.

Officers made their way to a third-floor room, but Fisher fled through the hotel window before they arrived, Mastronardy said.

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The window was adjacent to a roof that covered the hotel pool. Fisher ran across the roof, then dropped to the ground and ran east, climbing over the chain link fence around the hotel, said the police chief.

From there, Fisher allegedly made his way through a residential neighborhood, found a shed to hide in, and attempted to avoid police.

"He was quickly apprehended and then was additionally charged with resisting arrest and obstruction," Mastronardy said.

Fisher was also charged with the burglary. He is lodged in Ocean County Jail on $50,000 bail, no 10 percent.


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