SHOPLIFTING ARRESTS

DATE/TIME: 12/27/2007
LOCATION: Rite Aid, West Park and Hwy 35
OFFICERS INVOLVED: Trevor Dickerson, Alon Bercovicz, Daniel Weber, Luke Scaillo, William Crosta, Dimitrios Kelesidis, Detective Timothy Torchia, Detective Gregory Schenck and Detective Lt. Steven Peters
ACCUSED: Paul Fabian Wint, Age 22 of Queens, NY
William Antonio Smith, Age 26 of Elizabeth, NJ
15-year-old male of Brooklyn, NY

NARRATIVE
     On 12/27/2007 at approximately 4:23 pm, Police were called to the Rite Aid located at the corner of Hwy 35 and West Park Ave in reference to a shoplifting in progress. An employee from Rite-Aid had witnessed four subjects enter the store and steal various merchandise to include Prilosec, Gillette Razors, Semokot and several DVD movies all valued at 669.72. Upon being discovered the four subjects fled the store and jumped into a waiting Chevy Tahoe that was parked at the rear of the store. The Chevy subsequently took off out onto West Park Ave. The driver of the Tahoe then struck the rear of Kenworth Tow Truck that was stopped in traffic vehicle near the Starbucks on West Park Ave. Officers Trevor Dickerson and Alon Bercovicz arrived on scene and observed the four subjects exit the Tahoe and run towards Kings Hwy. The Officers then gave foot chase of the subjects. The Tahoe then left the scene of the accident and was later found parked at the dead end of Klein Street. A resident there witnessed the driver exit the Tahoe and take off into the neighborhood.
     One of the subjects, later identified as a 15-year-old male was located hiding under a truck in the lot of Seaboard Welding Supply by Officers Dickerson, Crosta and Sciallo. A second subject, later identified as William Antonio Smith was located by Officer Kelesidis hiding in some brush behind the Janet Photography Studio. A third subject, later identified as Paul Fabian Wint, was located by Detective Lieutenant Steven Peters hiding behind a dumpster in the Towne Shopping Center. Wint was also identified as the driver of the Tahoe and found to be in possession of marijuana. All three were arrested on scene and transported to OTPD for further processing. Two unidentified subjects involved in the incident managed to elude police. A K-9 from Long Branch was called in to assist in the search. The two were described as black males, possibly in their late teens to early twenties last seen wearing dark jeans and jackets. The two were believed to have fled on foot north along Kings Hwy.
     The Chevy Tahoe was subsequently seized under criminal forfeiture guidelines. Further investigation revealed that the Tahoe contained 102 DVD movies valued at over $2700.00. Also numerous items of over the counter medicines such as Prilosec, Rogain, Mucinex and Tylenol along with Polaroid film and Gillette razors were also recovered inside the Tahoe. The value of these items was estimated to be $1000.00. All the items recovered in the Tahoe are believed to be stolen from other retail locations throughout the area and the investigation is ongoing at this time.
     Wint was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Shoplifting, Resisting Arrest, Possessing Stolen Property and Possession of Less than fifty grams of Marijuana. He was later released on a criminal summons. Smith was charged with Shoplifting, Resisting Arrest and Possessing Stolen Property. He also had an active warrant for his arrest out of Millburn, NJ. He was later taken to the Monmouth County Jail on $35,000.00 bail. The 15-year-old was charged with Shoplifting and Resisting Arrest. He was later released to an adult family friend.