On 07/27/2013 at 08:33 pm, Manchester Police responded to the State Hwy 70 Shop Rite regarding a robbery. When Officers arrived they learned that an unknown white male suspect had forcefully taken an unknown amount of money out of a 59 year old female cashiers register. The cashier stated while she was getting change from the till for another customer, the suspect came out of nowhere and shoved her away from the register. When the cashier tried covering the till, the suspect used his shoulder to pin her against the conveyor belt. The cashier sustained an injury to her left hand but later refused further medical treatment. After taking the money, the suspect exited the Shop Rite and ran into the parking lot. Several witnesses saw the suspect get into a white Subaru Wagon and exit the parking lot in an unknown direction. Shortly after the incident, Lakehurst Police Officer Mathew Kline observed a white Subaru Wagon in the parking lot of the Circle Plaza along State Hwy 70. Officer Kline approached this white Subaru in attempt to identify the driver. When Officer Kline identified himself to the driver, the driver put his vehicle in reverse and began backing out of the parking space. Disregarding the Officers orders to stop, the Subaru exited the parking lot at a high rate of speed. As the vehicle exited the parking lot, Officer Kline was able to obtain the registration (NJ Z18CHF) which came back to a 2007 white Subaru Forester. The vehicle is registered to 28 year old Thomas Tomlinson who resides in Barnegat Twp. Officer Kline later identified Tomlinson through DMV photos and Shop Rite video tape as the operator of the white Subaru. According to Officer Kline, Tomlinson was the only occupant in the vehicle.
On 07/28/2013 at approximately 0645 am, an Off Duty Manchester Police Officer, Lt. Vincent Manco, observed a white Subaru Wagon in the parking lot of the WaWa located at the intersection of Lighthouse and Bay Ave in Barnegat Twp. The Subaru was said to be occupied only by a white male. Lt. Manco confirmed the suspected registration, (NJ Z18CHF), and contacted Barnegat Police for assistance. Barnegat Officers confirmed the identification of the driver of the Subaru as Thomas Tomlinson who was taken into custody without incident. Tomlinson was transported back to Manchester Police Headquarters and charged with Robbery, Assault and Theft. Lakehurst Police Officer Kline filed charges for eluding. Tomlinson’s bail was set at $150,000.00 no 10% on the Manchester Twp. charges, and $100,000.00 no 10% on the Lakehurst Charges. Tomlinson was later transported to Ocean County Jail in default of his bail. The incident is being investigated by Det. Danny Barker and Officer Marc Micciulla of the Manchester Police Department. Also assisting at the scene was Ocean County Sherriff’s Department CIU and Manchester Twp. First Aid squad.