Stafford Township, NJ – On February 13, 2025, at approximately 3:00 PM, Malik Alston, 30 years of age, who resides on Steuben Street in East Orange, NJ, was arrested at the Ocean County Jail and charged with Shoplifting 2C:20-11 for stealing approximately $6,565 worth of merchandise from Dicks Sporting Goods located at 223 Stafford Park Boulevard.  Additionally, Alston was charged again with Shoplifting for stealing approximately $2,886 worth of merchandise from The Home Depot located at 197 Route 72 in Manahawkin.  A second suspect, Lance Ogunwale, 34 years of age, who resides on North Arlington Avenue in East Orange, NJ, was arrested in Somerset County on February 24th after a warrant had been issued for his arrest as an accomplice in the Home Depot Shoplifting incident.  Ogunwale was transported to the Ocean County Jail with a court appearance to be scheduled by the Ocean County Superior Court.  Detective Jacob Conner of the Stafford Township Police was the investigating officer.

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.