Crime & Safety

Man Faces Charge After 'Harassing' Lakewood Teen: PD

The man, a convicted sex offender, tried to follow the victim, police said.

Ronald P. Jakubowski has been charged with harassment, police said.
Ronald P. Jakubowski has been charged with harassment, police said. (NJSP Sex Offender Registry)

LAKEWOOD, NJ — A Toms River man who's a convicted sex offender has been charged with harassment, accused of following a teen and yelling comments at her in Lakewood, police said.

Ronald P. Jakubowski, 50, was charged with harassment, a fourth-degree crime, Lakewood Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said.

The incident happened Tuesday. Police were called to the area of 6th Street and Madison Avenue on a report of a luring attempt, and Patrolman Justin Pederson located the victim, a 15-year-old girl, on 7th Street near Madison Avenue.

Find out what's happening in Lakewoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Further investigation by Detective Eric Cicerello revealed the girl was walking alone on 6th Street she was approached by a 2001 blue Ford pickup truck operated by Jakubowski. As he got closer, he intentionally made some harassing comments "with the purpose to cause alarm and for self gratification," Staffordsmith said. He did not describe the comments.

The frightened victim ran but Jakubowski followed her in his truck. He was later stopped by the police as he was attempting to leave the area. Patrolman Sherry Jones located the pickup truck on River Avenue and pulled it over in the CVS parking lot at 596 River Ave., Staffordsmith said.

Find out what's happening in Lakewoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Jakubowski was arrested and charged and was later released pending a future court date.

Jakubowski was accused last summer by a Toms River family of making lewd motions and comments toward the family's then 10-year-old daughter, and Toms River police took a harassment complaint in that case.

Jakubowski is a Tier 2 registered sex offender according to the New Jersey State Police database. His record includes two previous incidents of exposing himself to girls age 10 and younger, in 2015 and in 2008, according to the database.

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Toms River Patch on Facebook.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.