Crime & Safety

Police Blotter: Drug, DWI and Assault Charges Issued

Recent local law enforcement activity in Manchester and Lakehurst

issued three drug charges last week, according to information released by Capt. Lisa Parker. 

On April 26, two Lanoka Harbor resident were charged near Beckerville Road and Horicon Avenue. Christine E. Sandella, 29, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia by Patrolman Adam Guker and Nicole M. Sandella, 30, was charged with drug possession by Patrolman Peter Manco, Parker said. 

Christine E. Sandella was transferred into Ocean County Sheriff's Department custody and Nicole M. Sandella was released on a summons, according to Parker. 

Find out what's happening in Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Two days later, 22-year-old Robert J. Hamm of Titusville, Fla., was charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia on Broadway Boulevard in the township's Pine Lake Park section by Patrolman Brian Volk. Hamm was released on a summons, Parker said.

Other charges reported by police include:

Find out what's happening in Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Tuesday, April 24

North Brunswick resident John R. Dye III, 53, was charged with operating a vehicle while on a driving while intoxicated license suspension on Route 571 by Patrolman Peter Manco. Dye was released on a summons, according to Parker. 

Justin L. Schneider, a 22-year-old Toms River resident, was charged with providing false information to police on Fifth Avenue in Manchester's Pine Lake Park section by Ptl. Peter Manco. Schneider was taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River, Parker said.

Friday, April 27

Dawn M. Eckhardt, 45, of Seaside Heights, was charged with driving while intoxicated on Route 530 near Manchester Boulevard by Patrolman Christian Nazario. Police released Eckhardt on a summons, Parker said.

Saturday, April 28

Brian B. Bowers, 31, of Port Monmouth, was charged with driving while intoxicated at Colbye Commons by Patrolman Stephen Hankins. Parker said that Bowers was released on a summons. 

Sunday, April 29

Sgt. Brian Baranyay and Officer Robert Seiden were dispatched to the area of Pine and Center Streets to investigate possible drug use and suspicious activity. A man interviewed, 38-year-old James Merinsky of Manchester, provided a false name to Baranyay in hopes of avoiding arrest on a $10,364 contempt of court warrant issued by the Ocean County Superior Court, said Sgt. Ronald Heinzman. 

Merinsky was transferred to Ocean County Sheriff's Department custody after Lakehurst police charged him with hindering apprehension, Heinzman said. Lakehurst officers were assisted by Manchester Police Department Sgt. James Komsa. 

Tuesday, May 1

Following a 911 call, Lakehurst Officers Jeffery Emmons and Robert Seiden were dispatched to a Second Street residence on an assault report. The officers took 25-year-old borough resident Steven Westlund into custody and charged him with simple assault. He was released pending a municipal court date, Heinzman said.

The above charges are not an indication of guilt. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.