HIT AND RUN ARREST

DATE/TIME: 2/27/2008
LOCATION: Deal Road and Logan Road
OFFICERS INVOLVED: Traffic Bureau Officers: Sgt. Gerald Spanarkel, Officer Todd Gregory and Officer Timothy Macom.
ACCUSED: John M. Higginbotham, Age 42 of Neptune City.

NARRATIVE
     On 2/27/08 at approximately 4:47pm, police were alerted to a three car crash at the intersection of Deal Road and Logan Road. A 2002 Beige Acura being operated by a female Township resident rear ended a white 1999 Ford Van, being operated by John M. Higgenbotham, which was stopped in traffic. The result of the crash caused Higginbotham’s vehicle to lurch forward and strike a 2005 Beige Ford, being operated by a female Elberon resident, which was also stopped in traffic. Higginbotham then left the scene west on Deal Road toward Highway 35.
     The driver of the Acura then notified Sgt. Gerald Spanarkel of the Traffic Bureau who along with Officer Timothy Macom and Officer Todd Gregory just so happen to be conducting aggressive driver enforcement at the Highway 35 and Deal Road intersection. Spanarkel then radioed Macom who was positioned west of Hwy 35 on Deal Road about the crash and the Higginbotham vehicle, the 1999 Ford Van. Moments later, Macom spotted the van and stopped it in the lot of the Oakhurst Fire Department Station #2 on Deal Road. Higginbotham was found to have an active warrant for his arrest from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department. He was subsequently taken into custody by Macom and taken to OTPD for further processing. He was also issued traffic tickets for driving while suspended, leaving the scene of the accident and failing to report an accident. He was later turned over to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department on $1417.99 bail. Officer Gregory handled the crash report.