Wild Hazlet Police Chase Yields Burglary Suspect

HAZLET, NJ — A Little Egg Harbor man was arrested Friday in Hazlet after a wild police chase where he drove into a resident's pool on Crestview Drive. The man is a suspect in a string of recent home break-ins and stolen cars in Aberdeen, Middletown, Atlantic Highlands and Hazlet, police say, particularly the area around Holmdel Road.

Hazlet Police arrested Christopher Kingsbury, 27, of Little Egg Harbor, in the early morning hours of Friday morning, Oct. 27. Police were on the lookout for Kingsbury when they observed a suspicious vehicle around 3:02 a.m. Friday in the area of Knoll Terrace. Patrolman Robert Dickens tried to stop the vehicle when the driver decided to flee. The car turned onto Jane Place, a cul de sac, and then turned around and struck three cars, including Ptl. Dickens' police car. He then drove over a lawn to avoid arrest, turned down Crestview Drive (another cul de sac) before driving into a resident's backyard and driving into their swimming pool.

Kingsbury then got out and fled fled on foot. At least 15 officers set up a perimeter and Hazlet's two K-9 dogs were deployed. Police searched the area for nearly three hours until 5:32 a.m. Friday, before two officers found Kingsbury trying to make his way back to the Shore Point Inn where he was staying. Police said the car Kingsbury was driving was stolen from a house he burglarized earlier in the night on Sixth Street in Hazlet.

It was later discovered that while he was trying to hide from officers, he broke into residences on Moak Drive and Meadow Court to try and evade capture, and he was charged with those break-ins, as well.

Hazlet police say Kingsbury was tied to a burglary on Roosevelt Ave. and a trespassing on Windflower Court last week. By the end of the day Friday, police were able to charge Kingsbury with 10 burglaries or break-ins in Hazlet alone. He was charged with burglaries on Bucknell Drive, Maple Drive, two on Northfield Court, Indian Hill Court and Rutgers Street.

"He is also a suspect of interest for burglaries in Aberdeen, Middletown and Atlantic Highlands," Hazlet police said.

He was charged with Burglary, two counts of Theft of Motor Vehicle, Criminal Trespass, Theft of Moveable Property, Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer, Eluding, Hindering Apprehension, Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose, Resisting Arrest and numerous motor vehicle offenses, as well as Receiving Stolen Property and Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance.