Crime & Safety
Manalapan Officer Assaulted During Credit Card Fraud Arrest
Two men from New York were arrested after allegedly obtaining items from Babies "R" Us and Best Buy fraudulently.
Two New York men allegedly purchased over $7,000 worth of items from the Best Buy and Babies “R” Us in Manalapan fraudulently, police said. Police were contacted about a shoplifting at around 5 p.m. on Tuesday and they were dispatched to the Epicentre Plaza on Route 9 South. Officers located the suspects' vehicle in the parking lot and conducted an investigation.
Amadou Samassekou, 31, and Wilfred Doumounian, 28, were each charged with two counts of theft by deception for purportedly obtaining $1,000 worth of merchandise from Babies “R” Us through false identification and fraudulently obtaining items from Best Buy valued at $6,036.92, according to police. Doumounian also allegedly used a Passport belonging to someone else to validate identification when making the payment at Best Buy.
Doumounian attempted to run away from the officers, but was apprehended by Ptl. Eric Voorand. Doumounian continued to resist arrest while Voorand was trying to take him into custody and the patrolman suffered injuries to his hand, police said. During his apprehension, Doumounian reportedly told police that his name was Adel Kader and provided a false birthday in order to interfere with his arrest, police said; his true identity was discovered at police headquarters.
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Doumounian was charged with securing execution of documents by deception, aggravated assault, obstructing administration of law or other governmental function, hindering apprehension, and two counts of theft by deception. He is currently remanded in Monmouth County Corrections on $175,250 bail, $75,000 of which stem from the Manalapan charges.
Samassekou was charged with two counts of theft by deception and two counts of fraudulent use of credit card. He is currently remanded in Monmouth County Corrections on $50,000 bail.
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Voorand was transported to CentraState Medical Center and treated for his injuries.
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