Fast Facts: Domestic Violence In Lacey Township

2000................  Most frequent day of occurrence:     Sunday 
                        Most Frequent 2 hour period:           6:00pm - 7:59pm 
                        Female Victims:                             244 (69%) 
                        Male Victims:                                109 (31%)

2001................  Most frequent day of occurrence:     Monday 
                        Most Frequent 2 hour period:           8:00pm - 9:59pm 
                        Female Victims:                             258 (70%) 
                        Male Victims:                                109 (30%)

2002................  Most frequent day of occurrence:     Saturday 
                        Most Frequent 2 hour period:           6:00pm - 7:59pm 
                        Female Victims:                             252 (70%) 
                        Male Victims:                                108 (30%)

2003................  Most frequent day of occurrence:     Sunday 
                        Most Frequent 2 hour period:           8:00pm - 9:59pm 
                        Female Victims:                             214 (72.5%) 
                        Male Victims:                                81 (27.5%)


2004................  Data Not Yet Available      

The Investigative Division is charged with the responsibility to review all incident reports and intelligence sources in order to prioritize and investigate criminal activity. Lieutenant James Veltri, Commander of the Investigative Division, also serves as the Department’s Counter-Terrorism Coordinator and meets regularly with other local, state and federal authorities in that regard.

The Investigative Division went through a number of personnel changes during the past year. James Veltri was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and Christopher Cornelius was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

The Investigative Division is staffed by the following employees.

Employee     Lt. James Veltri Sgt. Christopher Cornelius Detective Joseph Soto Detective John Simonson

Position Investigative Division Commander Investigative Division Supervisor Juvenile Officer/School Liaison Case Detective

Comments 16 years experience 6 years experience 6 years experience 5 years experience

Cases

Detectives work cases that are assigned to them based on the nature or complexity of the case. They also work a number of cases that they initiate upon receiving intelligence information.

A few notable cases for 2004 include:

• The Detective Bureau conducted an intensive investigation based upon an allegation by a township juvenile that she was assaulted with a knife. The investigation revealed that the entire incident was fabricated.
  
• Members of the Detective Bureau assisted patrol officers in the investigation of a one car crash that took the life of a 41 year old Barnegat Township man during the early morning hours of January 31, 2004. The driver of the vehicle, William J. Price, was charged with vehicular homicide and lodged in Ocean County Jail in lieu of $100,000.00 bail.
  
• Detective Christopher Cornelius completed a 4-month investigation of numerous car burglaries that occurred at Lacey Collision and Monari’s Auto Repair. The investigation ended with the arrest of two Seaside Heights men and one Beachwood man. Charges included 5 counts of Burglary and 3 counts each of Theft and Criminal Mischief.
  
• Detective Cornelius concluded a lengthy investigation which resulted in the arrest of a 24 year-old Beachwood man charging him with the theft of over $ 69,000.00 from a township business. The thefts were perpetrated when the individual, an employee, set up a duplicate checking account with a similar business name and then fraudulently deposited checks made out to the legitimate business in the new account.
  
• A 39 year-old man was arrested and charged with Aggravated Arson after he intentionally lit his detached garage on fire, recklessly endangering the lives of others.
  
• Detective Christopher Cornelius arrested two (2) eighteen year old township men, charging them with Possession and Possession with the Intent to Distribute over 100 pills of the drug commonly known as Ecstasy. They were also charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine.
  
• Detective Michael DiBella arrested a Seaside Heights couple charging them with strong-armed robbery. The incident, which occurred at the trestle in Lanoka Harbor, involved the accused couple ripping a gold chain from the neck of a Lacey Township man. The chain was valued at $400.00.
  
• Detective Sgt. Veltri, Detective Joseph Soto and Officer Vincent Meehan concluded a week-long investigation culminating in the arrest of two adult men from Lacey Township. The men were each charged with Aggravated Arson related to the burning of a 2001 Ford Ranger, owned by one of the defendants. Both men were lodged in Ocean County Jail.
  
• Detective Christopher Cornelius investigated the theft of over $30,000 from the estate of a Lacey Township man. Criminal complaints were signed against a caretaker.
  
• Detective Cornelius investigated the theft of construction equipment from Top Coat Paving, Lanoka Harbor. The equipment included a 1990 International Dump Truck, a Stephen L. Green double-axle trailer and a John Deere Backhoe. The equipment, valued at over $45,000.00, was taken from the company’s yard during the early morning hours of Sunday, June 13, 2004.
  
• Detective DiBella investigated the burglary of a Richmond Drive residence. The homeowner reported numerous items missing from his garage with an estimated value of $18,000.00. The items include fishing equipment, electronics and a digital camera.
  
• Detectives Simonson and DiBella arrested a pair of Lacey Township adults charging them with possession and distribution of heroin. The 41 bags of heroin were confiscated during a traffic stop after an active warrant was discovered for the driver. Patrol Division personnel along with the Ocean County Narcotics Strike Force assisted in the investigation. Both individuals were lodged in the Ocean County Jail.
  
• Detective John Simonson, assisted by Officer Robert Duffy, arrested a 27 year old township man on various charges including Aggravated Sexual Assault and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The victim was a juvenile household member. The accused was lodged in Ocean County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail.
  
• At approximately 5:13 p.m. on Monday, September 6, 2004, a resident of Murray Grove Lane contacted the police department and reported the possible discovery of human remains in a wooded area behind his home, approximately 1/8th of a mile west of Route 9 and adjacent to what is known as the Lacey Rail Trail. An investigation was initiated by the police department assisted by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Unit, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Office of the Medical Examiner. The remains, which were badly decomposed, were positively identified as human and were transported to Community Medical Center for an autopsy.
  
  On Tuesday, September 7, 2004, an autopsy was conducted and a positive identification was made. The individual was a 57 year old transient whose last known address was in Lakewood, N.J. There were no signs of criminal wrong doing or foul play.
  
• During the late evening hours of September 9, 2004, patrol officers discovered the recent burglary of several area businesses. While assisting with the investigation, Officer Patrick Ganley began searching the surrounding area and businesses. While checking the Laurel Plaza Shopping Center, Officer Ganley discovered an unsecured rear door at the “Touch of Country” store. Officer Ganley quickly determined that a burglary was in progress at that location. Officer Ganley was able to apprehend the individual who attempted to flee from the store. Officer Ganley recovered over $7,000 in cash from the man, a drifter from Howell Township, as well as evidence linking him to the other burglaries.Subsequent interviews of the suspect led to the solving of numerous burglaries in other jurisdictions as well. The suspect was lodged in Ocean County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bail.
  
• Detectives Michael DiBella and Joseph Soto arrested 9 adults, 5 of whom lived in a single township residence, after a lengthy investigation led to the confiscation of heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana, steroids and drug paraphernalia.
  
• The department investigated ten (10) in-water boat burglaries in which approximately $10,000.00 in marine equipment, including electronics, fishing poles and tackle were stolen.
  
• Detective Simonson arrested a 17 year-old township juvenile from Lanoka Harbor charging him with one (1) count of Aggravated Sexual Assault, one (1) count of Sexual Assault, and one (1) count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
  
• Detective Joseph Soto arrested three (3) female juveniles from Lacey Township in connection with the burglary of a Penn Avenue North residence. Each girl was charged with one (1) count of Burglary and one (1) count of Theft.
  
• Detective John Simonson, assisted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, arrested a Township man charging him with Aggravated Sexual Assault and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The investigation began with a referral from the Division of Youth and Family Services. The incident involved an inappropriate relationship between the accused and a fifteen (15) year old female. The accused was lodged in Ocean County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

These are just a few of the many investigations from a very busy year. Not included here are many investigations conducted by Detective Bureau personnel that are handled as the routine part of a workweek. They include death investigations, sexual assaults, thefts, and burglaries just to name a few.

Property Stolen and Recovered

There were 1,062 criminal offenses directed against property in 2004. They include such offenses as Burglary, Theft, Criminal Mischief and Shoplifting. The exact amount of value in theft related offenses is hard to determine as officers and victims usually estimate the value of property stolen and recovered. The chart below reflects the estimated value of property stolen and recovered for the previous three (3) years. The current department computer system and record keeping practices do not permit for the ready determination of the value of damaged property.