May Lakehurst Police Blotter Features Drug, Shoplifting and Other Charges

A Manchester man faces multiple drug charges after his vehicle was stopped by Lakehurst police on Route 37 in early May, according to police blotter information recently released by Sgt. Ronald Heinzman.

Ethan R. Knapp, 19, of Manchester, was stopped on the state highway near Brown Avenue by Officer Matthew Kline on May 6. Police charged Knapp with drug possession in a motor vehicle, being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to Heinzman, Knapp was released on summonses pending a municipal court date. Heinzman and Officer Jessie Hoydis assisted Kline with the arrest.

The following charges were also reported in the borough:

May 5 - Police Charge "Unwelcome Guest"

• Darrel L. Vandervort, 51, of Lakehurst, was arrested by Officer Jessie Hoydis and charged with harassment after police identified him as an "unwelcome guest" at a Pine Street residence. According to Heinzman, Sgt. Brian Baranyay assisted Hoydis and Vandervort was released on a summons pending a municipal court date.

May 14 - Route 70 DWI Stop

• Alvin Burney Jr., 22, of Lakewood, was arrested and charged with DWI following a stop by Heinzman for failure to maintain lane on Route 70 and Manapaqua Avenue. 
  
  According to Heinzman, Burney was also charged with reckless driving, driving with a suspended license and failure to show documents. It was discovered that Burney had an active Toms River Municipal Court warrant and he was released to that town's police department in lieu of bail after receiving summonses from Lakehurst police.

May 15 - Wawa Shoplifting Allegedly Caught on Video

• A 54-year-old Jackson man was charged with shoplifting at the Lakehurst Wawa after the store's management supplied Lakehurst police with a surveillance video allegedly showing a man "reaching over the counter and taking cigarettes."
  
  Officer Matthew Kline identified the man in the video as Joseph P. Stevens of Anthony Way in Jackson. Officer Ryan Valeri and Jackson police later went to Stevens' residence to place him under arrest.
  
  According to Heinzman, Stevens was "intoxicated and uncooperative" and faces another charge for refusal to submit to fingerprinting. It was also discovered that Stevens had active municipal court warrants for shoplifting issued by Manchester and Howell.

May 18 - Megan's Law Arrest

• After an investigation by Officer Jeffrey Emmons, it was determined that a former Lakehurst resident failed to comply with Megan's Law, as police allege he failed to register annually and did not notify police of his address change. 
  
  Lester L. Peer, 56, who had lived in the borough, was found at a Little Egg Harbor residence by that town's police. He was arrested and turned over to Emmons in Lakehurst. 
  
  According to Heinzman, Peer was then taken to Ocean County Jail in lieu of the $25,000 bail set by Judge Damian Murray of the Lakehurst Municipal Court.