Brother Charged With Attempted Murder In Stabbing Of Toms River Woman

A Toms River woman was undergoing surgery Sunday night for stab wounds suffered when her brother attacked her at her home on Adams Avenue, police said.

Her brother, Giovanny Alba, 23, of Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y., is in the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail, charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon, and resisting arrest after the incident, which happened shortly before 12:30 p.m., said Ralph Stocco, spokesman for the Toms River Police Department.

Alba’s mother, Denise Roman, 52, also of Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, also was arrested and charged with interfering with a law enforcement officer and released, Stocco said.

Police were called to the 3400 block of Adams Avenue for a report of a woman bleeding in the street near the home, and Patrol Officer Kevin Oliver and the officers who responded found the woman with several stab wounds to the upper torso, Stocco said.

While they were rendering first aid to the woman, it was determined that the suspect -- identified as Alba -- was outside the home and in the proximity of the officers. As backup officers arrived, and not knowing whether he was still armed with a knife, they attempted to take Alba into custody, Stocco said.

Alba initiated a physical confrontation, resisting the efforts and refusing to comply with the officers’ directions, Stocco said. A struggle ensued and Alba eventually was taken into custody, he said. Roman intervened during the struggle and tried to prevent the officers from arresting Alba.

The 34-year-old woman was flown by medevac to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where she remained in surgery Sunday evening, Stocco said.

Officer Frank Lauria suffered minor cuts and scrapes in the struggle to subdue Alba, Stocco said.

Toms River Police Detectives Randy Petrick and John Bajcic as well as Lieutenant Carlos Trujillo-Tovar, Detective Brian Haggerty, and Detective Raymond Gardner of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit are investigating. Further assistance was provided by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, he said.

This incident including the circumstances that led up to the altercation and stabbing are currently under investigation. No further details will be released at this time, Stocco said.

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com.

Stay on top of Patch’s local coverage of Toms RIver by subscribing to the daily newsletter, here.

You can also post your own news, events and announcements on Patch by following these directions. Curious about how our new commenting platform, Disqus, works? Learn more about it here and start interacting with your community.