On June 28th at 8:33 am, Manchester Police received a 911 call from a Pine Lake Park resident who resides on the 2000 block of Eight Avenue stating there was an intruder in his home. The resident was awakened by the sounds of someone walking around the upstairs of his house. Knowing no one else was supposed to be in the house at the time, he contacted the police. Police dispatchers told the caller to leave the house for his safety until the police arrived. While waiting for the police to arrive, the caller spotted a caucasian female with red dyed hair fleeing his home and running down Eighth Ave toward the Pine Lake Park Clubhouse.
When officers arrived they immediately began to search the area for the suspect. Ocean County Sheriff’s Office was contacted for use of their tracking K-9 and Criminalistics Unit (CIU). Based on the knowledge of the area and the suspect’s description, Ptl. Scott Thompson, Ptl. Thomas O’Hare and Ptl. Michael Terranova narrowed the search area to the end of Eighth Ave where a female matching that description resided. Officers then made contact with the resident of a house in that area and were able to positively identify the suspect and subsequently arrested her.Ptl O’Hare arrested Marrisa Bartles, 29, of Eighth Ave for an outstanding warrant from Toms River and burglary. During Bartles interview, OC Sheriff’s K-9 Officer Wielichoski and his K-9 Titan, tracked from the victim’s residence directly to the suspect’s home on Eighth Ave, confirming her involvement. Det. Danny Barker and Ptl. O’Hare interviewed Bartles regarding the burglary that took place earlier in the morning. She admitted to entering the home yesterday through an open door and physically broke through the French doors in the back that morning because they were locked. Although Bartles admitted to taking items from the house, none were recovered at this time.
Bartles was charged with two counts of Burglary, two counts of Theft and one count of Criminal Mischief. Her bail was set at $17,500.00 and she was sent to Ocean County Jail pending court.
Residents are reminded to keep their doors and windows locks at all times along with their vehicles and to call police with any suspicious activity.