Crime & Safety
Toms River Man Charged in Theft, Assault at Target
Suspect, in electric wheelchair, pushed loss prevention officers to steal items, police say
A Toms River man faces charges including theft and assault after an incident at the Target store on Hooper Avenue on Friday.
David Smith, 33, of Bauermann Avenue, was arrested after Lt. James Harris spotted the vehicle in which he was driving on Indian Hill Road, said Police Chief Michael Mastronardy.
Loss Prevention Officers at Target told police the 350 pound suspect was observed driving a handicapped electric wheelchair and removed a DVD from the store. When loss prevention officers went to detain him, he pushed them and got in an altercation that ripped one of the officer's jackets, then fled in the vehicle that was stopped shortly after.
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Recovered by Officer John Mehl were 2 DVDs, a set of batteries and a set of walkie talkies. Smith was charged with shoplifting, robbery and simple assault, and was lodged in the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
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