By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
An employee at the Target on Route 35 was taken from the store in cuffs last week after police say she pocketed cash that was supposed to go into the register for sales.
The Keansburg woman allegedly rang transactions on the cash register, then voided them and took the cash, Detective Lieutenant Steve Dollinger said in a roundup of police activity.
Details and more reports from Middletown police appear unedited below.
• On July 21, 2011 at approximately 1:25 pm Patrolman Raymond Sofield responded to the area of Atlantic Avenue to assist the Keansburg Police Department search for a suspect wanted for committing a burglary in Keansburg during which jewelry and a handgun were stolen. Officer Sofeild and officers from the Keansburg Police Department located the suspect, identified as Joseph Lynch, age 25, from Atlantic Avenue in Middletown, at his residence.
The officers conducted an investigation which resulted in Lynch being arrested for Receiving Stolen Property, Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Unlawful Possession of a Handgun. Police located the stolen handgun and jewelry at his residence at the time of the arrest.
Lynch was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and bail was set at $55,000.00 with a 10% option on the Middletown charges. Lynch also faces charges in Keansburg.
• On July 21, 2011 at approximately 12:20 pm Patrolman Donald Coates and Patrolman Jason Caruso were on patrol in the area of Navesink Avenue when they stopped a vehicle for failing to stop at a stop sign.
The officers approached the vehicle to speak with the driver when they observed a baggie containing Marijuana and a cigar used to smoke Marijuana in plain view in the car. The officers continued their investigation which resulted in the arrests of Shannon Bell, age 20, from Palmer Avenue in Belford, NJ; Anthony McDonnell, age 21, from Port Monmouth Road in Middletown and a 15 year old male juvenile also from Port Monmouth Road in Middletown being arrested for Possession of under 50 Grams of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
All three subjects were transported to police headquarters for processing. The juvenile was released to his guardian and McDonnell and Bell were released pending a court date.
• On July 22, 2011 at approximately 1:36pm Corporal James Keenan responded to the Target Store in reference to a report of an employee theft. Upon arrival the officer was advised by store security that they had observed an employee, identified as Jennifer Digeso, age 29, from Beachway Avenue in Keansburg, NJ, ring several transactions into the cash register and then void them and pocket the cash.
Officer Keenan conducted an investigation which resulted in Digeso being arrested for theft. She was transported to police headquarters where she was processed and released pending a court date.
• On July 24, 2011 at approximately 5:05 pm Officer Lisa Vreeland responded to the Shoprite store in reference to a report of a shoplifting. Upon arrival the officer was advised by the store manager that two men had entered the store and then left with a basket full of merchandise. The men reportedly entered a car and attempted to leave the parking lot when their car struck another vehicle.
The manager attempted to approach the vehicle at this time but the vehicle fled the area. The store manager followed the vehicle in his car and discovered the suspects threw the stolen items out of the vehicle. He was able to obtain a plate number for the car which he then provided to the police.
Officer Vreeland located the suspects and conducted an investigation which resulted in the arrests of Robert Newell, age 40, form Kenwood Drive in Middletown and Thomas Scott, age 40, from Atlantic Avenue in Long Branch, NJ, for Shoplifting and Conspiracy. Both subjects were transported to police headquarters where they were processed and were being held on $10,000.00 bail set by Judge James Berube.
• On July 24, 2011 at approximately 3:00 am Patrolman Charles Higgins was on patrol in the area of Highway 36 and Church Street when he stopped a vehicle for speeding. Officer Higgins approached the driver, identified as Albin Wicki, age 21, from Third Street in Union Beach, NJ, at which point he detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath.
Officer Higgins conducted an investigation which resulted in Wicki being arrested for Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving and Speeding. He was transported to police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a court date.
The Middletown Police Department reports the arrests of the following subjects for various offenses:
Kyle Clayton, age 19, from Thousand Oaks Drive in Middletown, NJ, arrested on July 21, 2011 by Corporal Daniel Murdoch for Simple Assault and Criminal Mischief. He was released pending a court date.
Richard Emme, age 49, from Leonardville Road in Belford, NJ, arrested on July 22, 2011 by Patrolman Christian Clark for Violating a Court Order. He was released after posting $1,000.00 bail with a 10% option.
Ryan Mason, age 21, from East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, arrested on July 22, 2011 by Patrolman Adam Vandetti on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. He was released after posting $250.00 bail.
Randy Wagner, age 33, from Fourth Street in East Pennsylvania, arrested on July 22, 2011 by Patrolman Christopher Dee on a Contempt of Court warrant. He was being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Facility in Freehold, NJ.
Michael Lennon, age 35, from Seabreeze Avenue in Middletown, NJ, arrested on July 22, 2011 by Patrolman Donald Coates on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Newark Municipal Court and a Failure to Appear warrant Issued by the Monmouth County Superior Court. He was being held on bail.
Robert Pagan, age 30, from Kimberly Court in Middletown, NJ, arrested on July 24, 2011 by Patrolman Richard Belmonte on a Contempt of Court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court. He was released after posting $250.00 bail.
