Two Men Charged With Stealing Utility Pole, Wire, From Brick Home

Two men have been arrested and charged with theft after they allegedly stole a utility pole from in front of a vacant home on the barrier island in the township, Brick police said.

Steven R. Damato, 26, of Day Avenue, Middletown, and Benjamin O. Ellis, 42, of Whitesville Road, Toms River, were arrested Tuesday evening, Sgt. Henry Drew said, and charged with theft.

Police received a call saying two men had been at a vacant home in the 500 block of Sunset Boulevard and were seen removing a utility pole from the property. The caller said they then drove off in a silver two-door pickup truck, heading north on Route 35, Drew said.

Patrolman Bryan Murphy stopped the truck on Route 35 near the Mantoloking Bridge, while Patrolman Keith Donnelly investigated at Sunset Boulevard. In the back of the pickup truck were a utility pole and electrical wire. The investigation revealed that Damato and Ellis had removed them from the Sunset Boulevard property to sell them for scrap, Drew said.

The search of Damato’s pickup truck also turned up an unspecified quantity of marijuana, and Damato was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of CDS paraphernalia, Drew said.

Damato, who also satisfied $500 cash bail for a warrant issued out of the Toms River Municipal Court, was released on a criminal summons. Ellis also was released on a summons.

Detective Thomas Cooney assisted with the investigation, Drew said.