93 Charges For Man Who Threw Items At Ocean Co. Vehicles: Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — A South Jersey man is facing 93 criminal charges in a four-month spree where police allege he threw objects at passing vehicles as he drove in the opposite direction, shattering windshields and causing other damage, Manchester police said Friday.

Anthony A. Lewis, 35, of Chesterfield, was arrested April 9 at his home following a lengthy investigation into the incidents that began in December and spanned several towns, Manchester Lt. Vincent Manco said.

From December 2018 through March, more than 40 vehicles traveling throughout Ocean County were struck with objects thrown from another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction, Manco said, with police reports filed in Barnegat Township, Jackson Township, Lacey Township, Manchester Township and Plumsted Township.

There were more than 15 reports on Feb. 14 from a stretch of County Route 539 in Plumsted, of cars that sustained damaged windshields. In one incident a metal nut struck and became embedded in the side-view mirror on the driver's side of the vehicle, Manco said.

Police got a break in the case March 7, when Manchester police received a 9-1-1 call from a motorist reporting his windshield had been struck by an object thrown from a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction on County Route 539. The caller told police he was following the vehicle from which he suspected the object had been thrown, and gave police a description, license plate, and direction of travel of the suspect vehicle. Manchester police pulled over the car, a black 2006 Nissan Altima registered in Pennsylvania, and the driver, Lewis, was arrested on an outstanding traffic warrant out of Jackson, Manco said. Lewis was released on his own recognizance for the traffic offense at that time, he said.

With information from that incident and investigation that included multiple dash cam videos, police were able to link Lewis to 31 separate incidents of damage to vehicles throughout Ocean County. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible, Manco said.

As of April 12, Lewis has been charged with 31 counts of criminal mischief, 31 counts of interference with transportation, and 31 counts of reckless endangerment of another person, in incidents in Manchester, Plumsted, Jackson, Lacey and Barnegat, Manco said.

He is being held in the Ocean County Jail.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to Manchester Police Detective Adam Emmons at 732-657-2009, extension 4203, or Plumsted Township Detective Anthony Ringle at 609-758-7077, extension 203. Anonymous tips and information can also be reported to the Manchester Police Department on the department website here.

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