Police Blotter: Worksite Pipe, Barber Shop Trimmers Stolen

Recent incidents in Toms River

Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy released the following reports: Barber Shop Robbed Downtown Officers Robert O’Neil and Thomas Dimichele are investigating the  Burglary of Pells Barber Shop on Main Street in downtown Toms River.  On Sunday it was learned that the barber shop was entered by removing a window air conditioner. Police believe the incident occurred as early as last Thursday. Suspect(s) removed more than $300 worth of hair trimmers: two Wahl hair trimmers with red cases and a Oster trimmer still in original red case, as well as $100 in cash. Pipe Stolen from Worksite Officer Ryan Rush is investigating the theft of 10 pieces of 12” cast iron pipe reportedly worth about $3,000 from Messina Contracting who was working …

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Da Brickz

1:24 am on Friday, April 13, 2012

How are we supposed to notice when we are inside working, besides we don't make enough to care what goes on outside unless it's to our cars   more ›

Police Blotter: Equipment Theft at Sports Fields

Incidents from the last week in Toms River

Police reports this week as released by Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy: • Toms River Officer Scott Duncan is investigating the theft of four vehicle batteries and four extension cords from vehicles parked at the Saint Joseph’s sports complex on Whitty Road. Unknown subjects entered the secure, fenced compound where vehicles are stored by cutting a chain-link fence. They then removed the batteries from two buses that were parked there. The theft occurred sometime after 3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday morning.   • Officer Kevin O’Melia is investigating the attempted theft of a Dyson Vacuum cleaner valued at $695 from Kohl’s department store on Route 37 on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Loss prevention officers for Kohl’s observed a 35 year-old …

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Randal Graves

12:58 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012

@Rachel I'm not car thief requires too much effort for me I like you am a benny as well moved down here from Upr Saddle River so we didn't have crime like this on a daily basis guess this comes with wanting to be closer to the beach lol btw you should set settings on your facebook so non friends can't see your wall! :)   more ›

Police Investigating Possible Murder-Suicide in East Dover

Police investigating incident discovered at 11:30 a.m. today

Editor's note: Story updated at 7 p.m. A possible murder-suicide involving an elderly couple in East Dover was discovered at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, police said. Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said a gun was recovered from the living room of the home of a couple in the East Dover section of Toms River. Police converged on the home after a Meals on Wheels employee arrived at the home, and discovered two victims had been shot in an apparent murder-suicide, said the police chief. George Spangler, 88, and Anna Spangler, 85, of Scrimshaw Court in Toms River both died of apparent gunshot wounds, Mastronardy said. “Initial investigation indicates both parties were shot, and a gun was recovered at the scene,” Mastronardy said. "There is…

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Bud Boomer

11:35 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011

It's sad, Yet all we can do is speculate no one knows why this happened for all we know they both had an agreement to do this, Sometimes people lose hope and are tired of being ill and ask their loved one to help them go it's happened before but yet it's still sad and I hope they are resting in peace.   more ›

Halloween

Mischief Night 'Historically Quiet' for Toms River

Yesterday's storm didn't help any

If Mischief Night is the day before Halloween, in Toms River it gets a bump backward to Oct. 29. While other towns are on alert Oct. 30 for pumpkin-smashing, toilet-paper throwing, egg-pelting and Silly String spraying folk, Toms River is out trick or treating. The story goes, Oct. 29 is the night for mischief. But Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said that so-called Mischief Night isn’t much of a problem for the town. “It’s relatively quiet,” he said. “In the past, it’s been that way — historically we have been quiet.” The weather didn’t cooperate with any would-be mischievous folks last night, as a Nor’easter swept the area and temperatures quickly dropped as a light snow fell. It’s been the light vandalism of toilet paper and…

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Police Blotter: Three Women Suspected of Shoplifting Assault Two Others in Store

Police blotter from Toms River Police Chief Mastronardy

A shoplifting incident escalated to an assault between three women and two others in the store, police said. Police responded to the Joyce Leslie women’s clothing store, Indian Head Plaza, just before 9 p.m. Thursday, said Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy. The store closes at 9 p.m. Thursdays. “Initial reports are that there were suspects in the Joyce Leslie store who were involved with shoplifting,” said the police chief. Believed stolen is a medium camel-colored pea coat, and size 9 black leather boots, Mastronardy said. “The suspects were confronted, and then assaulted two women, 48 and 22. The victims were treated at the scene by Toms River Police EMS,” said the police chief. The three women fled the plaza, which is on Route…

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Amid Rash of Burglaries, Neighborhood Watch Group Meets with Police Chief, Detectives

Monthly meeting held in police headquarters

It was one of the larger monthly meetings of members of Toms River’s neighborhood watch groups. Police Chief Michael Mastronardy estimated 40 residents came out to hear the police department’s detective supervisor discuss ongoing crimes. The monthly meeting happened to fall amid recent news of two armed home invasions in Toms River. And Mastronardy also said there’s a recent rash of daytime burglaries, more than a month’s worth, as burglars break in to homes to take cash, jewelry and other valuables. “I think people are concerned about what’s going on,” Mastronardy said. The meeting might have had more members than previous monthly neighborhood watch meetings, but to Mastronardy it’s a good sign that residents want to take an active role …

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Bud Boomer

9:45 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011

I didn't wait for the police chief to call me back, I patrol my neighborhood a couple times a night by myself since no one else wants or cares enough to join me still won't stop me from looking after everyone and keeping criminals out by being a presence. Take it upon yourself arm yourself with a cell phone and if you see something that does not add up call the police and by god don't try to stop…   more ›

Car Burglar Subdued With Pepper Spray After Foot Chase on Route 9

Asbury Park man alleged to be stealing inspection decal from cars at dealership

A man who led police on a foot chase over a fence and across Route 9 was arrested and charged with burglary after police allege he attempted to steal inspection stickers from cars, officials said. David Owens, 48, of Asbury Park, was arrested 4 a.m. Thursday morning near a Route 9 auto dealership after police subdued him with pepper spray, police said. “The officers chased him over a fence and across Route 9 where he was finally apprehended after being pepper sprayed when he fought with the officers who were attempting to arrest him,” said Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy in an email. Officers Jason Putkowski, Anthony Scali and DJ Unger responded after officers saw Owens allegedly burglarizing a vehicle at Guardian Auto, …

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Toms River Police Mourn Loss of K-9 Officer

Simba joined force in 2002

A beloved officer of the Toms River Police Department died yesterday morning. K-9 Simba, a German shepherd police dog who joined the Toms River police in 2002, was put down after his advanced degenerative arthritis in several discs in his back left him with no movement in his back legs. His partner, Toms River Police Sgt. Keith Diehl, said Simba was one of four canine officers in the department and was 10 ½ years old. He described Simba as a best friend, a loved and beloved companion to him as an officer and to his family. “He was more than a member of the police force, he lived with me and was a loyal friend to my family,” Diehl said. “He was a member of my family, and the police family.” The K-9 on Tuesday started to exhibit signs that …

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Man Suspected of Robbing Toms River Police Chief's Home Arrested in Brick After Weekend Break-In

Justin Lovgren, 25, now being held in the Ocean County Jail, was arrested twice in two days

An alert township resident and a Brick police officer with a keen eye led to the arrest of a Beachwood man suspected of burglarizing a Bryn Mawr Drive home on Saturday. The same man, Justin Lovgren, 25, had been arrested just two days before in connection with a string of robberies in Toms River which included the home of Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy. In the case of the Brick robbery, a resident called police after he witnessed a man dressed in a hooded sweatshirt and grey sweatpants walking from the rear yard of a neighboring property whose owners were not home at the time. The resident confronted the man, who said he was in the neighborhood looking for the home where a party was to take place later in the day, according to…

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Mark Story Jenks

11:33 pm on Friday, April 22, 2011

Come to think of it, I think you have a point there, Gary. But just for the record Dennis, I don't think I'm "a bit antisemetic". Can't even recall what a semetic is. Something to do with languages?   more ›

Accidental Death of Public Works Employee at Composting Facility

Box truck driver died of head injury this afternoon, police said.

In what the Toms River police chief called an accidental death, a township public works employee died while unloading a box truck of leaves after 1:30 p.m. today. Longtime Department of Public Works Truck Driver Joseph Cisco, 53, of Toms River died from a head injury near the controls for the hydraulic lift of a box truck at the leaf compost facility on Whitesville Road on Friday afternoon, said Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy this evening in an email. Just after 1:30 p.m. two employees called police and Officer Brian Dugan responded to the scene and, “immediately determined that a Toms River public works employee unloading a box truck of leaves was killed,” said Mastronardy. The Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office …

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