Woman's False Hostage Claim Sparks Full SWAT Response In Lakewood: Police

LAKEWOOD, NJ — A Lakewood woman has been charged with making a false report after a text she sent to a relative resulted in a full crisis response from law enforcement, Lakewood police said Thursday.

The incident began when a woman walked into Lakewood police headquarters at 3:15 a.m. Thursday and told police she had received a text message from a relative saying she was being held against her will at her boyfriend's apartment, Lakewood Detective Sgt. Gregory Staffordsmith said.

Lakewood Police Officers Jeffrey Emmons and Caitlyn Kicki were sent to the apartment, which is on Kennedy Boulevard. When they were unable to make contact with any of the occupants, the Lakewood Police Special Response Team, crisis negotiators Sgts. Robert and Jeannette Shimonovich from the department, and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office all responded to the scene, Staffordsmith said..

At about 6:30 a.m., the 30-year-old woman who had texted her family member emerged, unharmed, from the apartment, Staffordsmith said.

After further investigation conducted by Detective Eric Cicerello and Officer Alex Guzman, the 30-year-old alleged victim, identified as Evelia Morales of Lakewood, was charged with the second-degree crime of circulating a false report involving a hostage situation, Staffordsmith said.

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