Shoplifting Suspect Caught With Live Fawn, Crack: Stafford Police

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — A man stopped by police for suspected shoplifting ended up being caught with a live fawn and crack cocaine on him, Stafford police said.

Police were told at about 6 p.m. on June 1 that a shoplifting suspect had just left the ShopRite on Route 72.

Officers went to the area to search for the man and found Matthew Keithley, 23, of Mays Landing, who was carrying a reusable shopping bag, police said.

As they spoke with Keithley, a fawn poked its head out of the top of the shopping bag, police said.

The officers told Keithley he was being detained for the illegal possession of a deer. Keithley lied about his identity and when he was told he was under arrest, he tried to flee the area on foot, police said.

Keithley was quickly taken into custody, where police found him to also be in possession of suspected crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

Once police were able to properly identify Keithley, they found two warrants for his arrest out of Atlantic County.

He was charged with illegal possession of a deer, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest by flight and providing false information to a law enforcement officer.

Keithley was taken to Ocean County Jail, and the fawn was returned to where it was found in the wild.