HANDGUN ARREST

DATE/TIME: 10/14/2007 12:07 AM
LOCATION: Asbury Park Circle
OFFICERS INVOLVED: Ryan Vaccaro, Bryan Morgan, William Crosta, Dimitrios Kelesidis and Detective Gregory Schenck.
ACCUSED: Christopher Lee Ellis Jr., Age 18 of Asbury Park

NARRATIVE
     On 10/14/2007 at 12:07 AM, Officer Ryan Vaccaro was on patrol in the area of the Asbury Park Circle. Vaccaro observed the operator of a 2001 Saturn, that was traveling west on the circle, not wearing a seatbelt. As Vaccaro pulled behind the Saturn, the operator abruptly slammed on the brakes and made a sudden turn and began to travel toward Highway 35 south. Officer Vaccaro subsequently stopped the Saturn near the Blockbuster Video store and identified the operator as Christopher Lee Ellis, age 18 of Neptune. Further investigation revealed that Ellis had an outstanding warrant for his arrest out of Asbury Park. Subsequent to Ellis’s arrest on the outstanding warrant, Vaccaro found a hand gun in the Saturn. Vaccaro determined that the handgun was not loaded. Ellis was then taken to OTPD for further processing. A 19 year-old male from Asbury Park, who was a passenger in the Saturn was also arrested on an outstanding warrant from Asbury Park Court. He was later turned over to the Asbury Park Police. A 17-year-old female who was also a passenger in the Saturn was taken into custody for her own protection and later released to he parents. The 2001 Saturn was subsequently seized under state forfeiture guidelines.
     Ellis was charged with Possessing a Handgun, Careless Driving and Failure to Wear a Seatbelt. He was later taken to Monmouth County Jail on $1075.00 bail.