Sprinkler System Puts Out Heritage Village Apartments Utility Room Fire

The following is a list of crimes and incidents reported in Manalapan between Feb. 23 and March 1. The police blotter is provided directly by the Manalapan Township Police Department and is reproduced here, unedited. Minor incidents such as warrant arrests have been omitted.

Fire Investigation

On Saturday, 03/01/2014 at approximately 9:30PM, Ptl. Richard Gallo, Ptl. Ed Hedden, and Sgt. Ed Niesz responded to Heritage Village Apartments, located at 216 Woodward Rd. for a reported smoke condition, and fire sprinkler activation on the ground floor.   The listed police officers and members of Manalapan Fire Company #2 and Manalapan Englishtown First Aid Squad assisted in evacuating residents of the building.  Upon identifying the source of the smoke it appeared to be coming from a utility room where a fire had been burning within a thermostat and a box, the fire had since been extinguished by the water-flow/sprinkler system which had flooded parts of the ground floor.  The cause of the fire is under investigation and there were no reported injuries as a result of this incident.

Theft

On Saturday, 03/01/2014 at 2:31am, Ptl. Jason Vigneault responded to Applebee’s for a report of a theft.  The manager reported that a black female approximately 50-years-old and a white male approximately 60-years-old ran out without paying their bill of $38.00.  The manager also reported that the male took $50.00 off of the bar from another tab as he was walking out.  The couple got into a new model silver BMW and left the area.  This incident is currently under investigation. 

Harassment

On Thursday, 02/27/14 at approximately 3:35PM, Ptl. DeFilippis responded to police headquarters for a subject who was threatened. A 62-year-old, white female, Manalapan resident, alleged that a known subject (39-year-old white male, Manalapan resident) made threatening and harassing comments to her on 02/25/14 at the Lafayette Mills School. No complaints are to be signed at this time and no students were involved in the incident. 

Theft

On Thursday, February 27th, 2014 at approximately 6:30pm, Ptl. Matthew Meyler took a theft report from a 46 year old white female Manalapan resident and her 14 year old daughter. The victim, who attends Manalapan High School, alleged that while at gym class, an unknown actor(s) removed her Apple iphone from the locker room. The incident is pending further investigation.

Motor Vehicle Crash with Pedestrian

On Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 9:26am, a 41-year-old Hispanic female (Victim) from South River, employed in house cleaning service, was struck by a motor vehicle operated by a 46-year-old female from Manalapan. The Victim was retrieving items from her legally parked vehicle at the time of the incident, and sustained non-life threatening injuries. The driver was issued a summons for careless driving, with a pending court date. The Victim was transported to Centra State Medical Center by Monroe Twp First Aid for treatment of her injuries. Also assisting at the scene were Marlboro Police Department and MONOC paramedics. Incident handled by Ptl Robert Kelly #93. 

Shoplifting

On Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at approximately 8:10pm, Ryan Joseph Ferro (18 year old White Male, Old Bridge Resident, Lifeguard) was arrested and charged with shoplifting $36.98 in items from Best Buy (15US Hwy 9, Manalapan, NJ).  He was brought to headquarters where he was processed and released on his own recognizance.  Ptl. E. Voorand  handled the incident.

Assault

On 02-24-14 at 12:28 pm the victim a 60 year old white male Old Bridge NJ resident reported being physically assaulted on 01-09-14 while at the Wegmans food store.  The case is currently under investigation by Ptl. Jeff Emslie and is pending criminal complaints. 

Theft/Criminal Mischief

On Monday 02-24-14 at 9:38 am a theft was reported.  Unknown actors removed two sprinkler backflow preventers from the Village Grande development in Manalapan Twp.  The actors also broke into one of the housings that contained the preventers.  The estimated loss is $2000.00.  The victim is a housing association based out of Freehold, NJ.  The incident is being investigated by Ptl. Jeff Emslie.