Stafford Township, NJ – June 7, 2024 – At approximately 2:30 A.M., Stafford Township Police was alerted of three stolen vehicles entering into their jurisdiction on Route 72 near the Garden State Parkway.  The vehicles proceeded towards Long Beach Island and when patrol units attempted a motor vehicle stop, the vehicles fled at a high rate of speed back onto the Causeway Bridge towards the mainland.  Stafford Township Master Patrol Officer Marc Povlosky successfully deployed spike strips to disable one of the vehicles which then crashed into a drainage basin near Mill Creek Road.  The driver fled on foot and officers secured a perimeter around the area.  Long Beach Township Police, Ship Bottom Police, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department arrived to assist in the search utilizing K9’s and drones.  The two remaining vehicles continued on to the Garden State Parkway and the pursuit was terminated.  The suspect from the vehicle that crashed, a 16-year-old male from Galloway, NJ, was located at approximately 8:15 A.M. and was placed under arrest.  He was processed at Stafford Township Police Headquarters where he was charged with Receiving Stolen Property 2C:20-10.2(a) and was then transported to a juvenile detention facility.  The investigation to identify the additional suspects is on-going.  Detective Reed was the arresting officer. 

We would like thank the assisting agencies for their cooperation in this incident and are grateful for the professional relationship we have with them.

As a reminder, the Stafford Township Police Department does not release arrest photos of defendants. All individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.