Crime & Safety

Several Recent Incidents At Cedar Creek Trestle Result In Arrests

by Patricia A. Miller

The old Cedar Creek Trestle back in the pines in Lanoka Harbor has been a hangout for decades, not always in a good way.

By day, the trestle - which borders Berkeley Township  is used primarily by people on canoes and kayaks to finish trips down the creek from the north, Lacey Police Chief David A. Paprota said.

By night, it's a different story.

"Although some people treat the location as if it is a remote location in the middle of the woods, it actually is very close to the homes on Warren Avenue," Paprota said. "Therefore, loud parties and open burning can be very disruptive to the residents in the area."

That was the case recently when Lacey police officers made a number of arrests in several different incidents on the same night.

"Patrol officers check the off-road area and regularly take enforcement action due to a consistent problem through the years with fights, open burning, illegal dumping, as well as underage drinking and illegal drug use during the evening and night hours," the chief said.

The night of June 22 was especially busy.

Officer Dimitrios Tsarnas and other officers responded to a large fight at the trestle at 9:22 p.m. Tsarnas stopped a 2009 Chevy Cobalt driven by Barbara Johnson, 25, Ocean Avenue in Beachwood as she attempted to leave the scene when police arrived, the chief said.

Johnson was arrested for drunk driving and the car was turned over to the registered owner at the scene. She was taken to police headquarters, where she was issued summons for DUI, reckless driving and failure to exhibit documents, he said.

While dealing the the fight, Lacey officers found that a number of people had started a fire at the Trestle location. Complaint summonses were issued to eight people - only two from Lacey - for improperly starting a fire at the location.

Summonses were issued to Matthew O. Izquigrdo, Long Point Drive, Brick; Michael F. Gillingan, Mohawk Drive, Brick; Karalyn P. Smith, 5th Avenue, Toms River; Alexander M. Supple, Lane Place, Forked River; Michael J. Cannito, Brewers Bridge Road, Jackson; Charles M. Dekker, Nautilus Boulevard, Forked River' Sasha Vasquez, Sky Manor Boulevard, Brick; and Joseph B. Figner, Northrop Road, Brick, according to the police report.

Officer George Resetar also charged a number of people with underage consumption of alcohol. They included: Vincent Ray, Metedeconk Road, Brick; Sandra Desieerio, Elizabeth Ave, Brick; Candice A. Brandtjen, Bellanca Rd, Brick: Danielle E. Figner, Hamilton Court,Lakewood:, Richard D. Getts, Metedeconk Road, Brick; and Aaron J. Molhem,  Crosstrees Road, Brick, police said.

Lacey police also recently arrested a Bayville man found passed out behind the wheel of a car with the motor running at the Trestle on the night of June 18.

Officer Evan Androcy and Officer Noah Schaffer found Dylan Kramer, 22, Eastern Boulevard, in the driver's seat of a green Saturn wagon.

It took the officers several tries to wake up Kramer, who had visible signs of recent drug use on his arms. They also found a hypodermic syringe on the car seat and an open 16-ounce can of Budweiser in the center console, Paprota said.

The Lanoka Harbor First Aid Squad responded to the scene to treat Kramer, but he refused treatment. Officers determined that Kramer had been driving under the influence.

He was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a hypodermic needle, driving under the influence, reckless driving, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle and possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, the chief said.

"We have found that much of the illegal activity at the location is committed by visitors from outside of Lacey Township," Paprota said. "Otherwise, it's a very nice location."





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