178 Arrested, Over $57K Collected In Mercer County Child Support Sweep

A three-day child support sweep in Mercer County last week resulted in 178 arrests, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office announced on Wednesday. The sweep took place between 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26, and Thursday evening, Sept. 28, and was part of a statewide operation. Mercer County lead all 21 counties in number of arrests and amount of money collected.

The sweep netted over $57,000, for distribution by the New Jersey Family Support Payment Center of Mercer County. The Sheriff’s Office led 15 teams of officers on a sweep of the most egregious non-compliant parents in Mercer County. They targeted 205 people, including 198 men and seven women.

“In most every instance, those caught in the sweep deliberately avoided paying their court ordered child support,” Mercer County Sheriff Jack Kemler said. “Many of those taken into custody habitually evaded making payments, leaving their children without monies for adequate food or shelter.”

Most of those caught in the sweep claimed they lack the means to make their court-ordered child support payments, according to the sheriff’s office. Each was afforded the opportunity to set up lump sum or scheduled payments as a condition of their release.

Last year, the New Jersey Child Support Council awarded its Sheriff’s Office of the Year Award to the Mercer County Sheriff s Office, Child Support Enforcement Team, ranking them first among 21 counties in child support arrests, warrants executed, and total monies collected, to aid children.

For more information on how to file a child support complaint or resolve a child support warrant, contact Detective Stephen Mellick at the Mercer County Sheriff s Office at 609-989-6798.

Image via Shutterstock