Lacey Police Blotter: Lewdness, Hit-And-Run Charges

LACEY, NJ — Lacey Township police charged three people with driving while intoxicated, responded to two fires and filed a lewdness charge against a man who mooned two people after threatening to punch one in the face, according to police reports from Jan. 13-22.

BURGLARY: On Jan. 13, 2022, at 10:39 a.m. Patrolman Michael Hein responded to 200 block of Fernwood Lane for a report of a burglary to a vehicle. The vehicle owner told Hein met someone went into the vehicle overnight. The vehicle was left unlocked, she said. There was no apparent damage, but a pair of black women’s size 8 Timberland boots, valued at $100, was missing from the front passenger seat. Officer Hein canvassed the area and found no additional victims.

DWI: On Jan. 14 at 6:33 p.m. multiple officers responded a report of a possibly intoxicated driver on Lacey Road near Arlington Avenue. The caller told dispatch the vehicle was swerving all over the road and hit a garbage can. Officer Keefe pulled over the vehicle at the intersection of Lacey Road and Lake Barnegat Drive. The investigation found the driver, Victor M. Narvaez, 32, of Bayville, was driving while intoxicated. He was charged with DWI, reckless driving, unlicensed driver and possession of an open container in a motor vehicle, and released.

HIT-AND-RUN CRASH: On Jan. 14 at 9:37 p.m. a hit-and-run crash was reported at Wendy’s, 301 North Main St. The complainant told Officer Walsh that a black Cadillac ATS bumped the rear end of the person's vehicle while they were in the drive-thru lane of the restaurant, then left and headed east on Nautilus Boulevard. Officer Walsh found the car, still running, in the driveway a Nautilus Boulevard home and found the driver, Anthony V. Romanowski, 34, sleeping at the wheel. The investigation found Romanowski was driving while intoxicated; he was arrested and charged with DWI, reckless driving, failure to report an accident, and leaving the scene of an accident.

HOUSE FIRE: On Jan. 15 at 10:41 p.m. officers responded to a fire in an attached garage at a home on the 200 block of Falkenburgh Avenue. The homeowner told police he had the top burners lit on a gas-powered stove in the garage, using it for heat for himself and his cat because the heating unit in his home had broken. The homeowner told police he smelled smoke while he was in the house and when he checked the garage, saw flames coming from the stove. The investigation found the cat most likely knocked a Lego set next to the oven onto the burners, igniting the fire. Officer Keefe put the flames out with his fire extinguisher. The Forked River Fire Department assisted. The Ocean County Deputy Fire Marshal responded and determined that the fire was not suspicious.

LEWDNESS: On Jan. 17 at 6:42 p.m. police answered a call to the parking lot of Deerhead Lake. The complainants told police they were sitting in their vehicle in the parking lot when a black Honda CRV pulled into the lot and parked perpendicular to their vehicle with its headlights on. Feeling uncomfortable with the driver looking into their vehicle, they repositioned their vehicle so it faced the Honda. The driver of the Honda, Rodney Mikloski, 55, of Lacey, approached the driver's-side window and threatened to punch the driver in the face and break his glasses, the man told police. As Mikloski walked away, he pulled down his shorts and "exposed his buttocks for approximately 3 seconds, which the man in the car captured on video, police said. Officers went to Mikloski's home and Officer Julian charged him with lewdness on a special form of complaint.

MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH/WARRANT ARREST: On Jan. 20 at 4:51 p.m. Officer Daniel Biel responded to a crash in Lanoka Farms. During the investigation it was discovered one of the drivers, Justin Scialfa, 34, had an active warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken to the Ocean County Jail. Police did not give details on the warrant.

DWI: On Jan. 21 at 1:48 p.m., a possible intoxicated driver was reported in the area of Route 9 and Haines Street; officers pulled it over near the intersection of Lacey Road and Newark Avenue. The investigation led to the arrest of Gregory Zambelli, 30. He was taken to police headquarters and was charged with driving under the influence of CDS and with reckless driving, and was charged on a complaint summons with use/being under the influence of CDS.

WARRANT ARREST: On Jan. 21 at 9:33 p.m. Officer Watkins pulled over a vehicle near the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Lakeside Drive North for speeding. The driver, Robert Arminas, 32, was found to have an outstanding arrest warrant, and was arrested and taken to headquarters. He was later released on his own recognizance after being ticketed for driving while suspended and speeding.

STRUCTURE FIRE: On Jan. 22 at 6:20 a.m. officers responded to a Warren Avenue home for a report of heavy smoke. The residents had evacuated before authorities arrived. Forked River Fire Department, Lanoka Harbor Fire Department and Bayville Fire Department responded and extinguished fire. The State Fire Marshal and the Lacey Township Building Inspector responded and determined the home was uninhabitable due to damage from the fire and water.

WARRANT ARREST: On Jan. 22 at 3:04 p.m. police received a report of an erratic driver in the area of Lacey Road and Lake Barnegat Drive North. Officer Biel saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation and pulled it over. The driver, Saul Padilla, 40, was found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and taken to the Ocean County Jail.