Duo Charged After Homeowner Disrupts Burglary In Progress: Manchester Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — Two men have been charged with burglarizing a Manchester Township home after the homeowner disrupted the crime in progress, Manchester police said Thursday.

Christopher Wohltman, age 31, of Hillside Drive, Manchester, and John Grogan, age 29, of Martin Luther King Drive, Jersey City, have been charged with burglary in the incident, Manchester Lt. Vincent Manco said.

The incident happened shortly before 1 a.m. on Tuesday, June 13, Manco said. The homeowner returned to his Hillside Drive home to find the house had been ransacked, and he heard a loud noise coming from the rear of the house, Manco said. The homeowner called police and Manchester officers, including Officer Steven Wendruff and K-9 Lynk, began investigating. Lynk and Wendruff tracked directly from the scene of the burglary to another home on Hillside Drive, and subsequently arrested Wohltman, Manco said.

Wohltman was charged with burglary and possession of a controlled dangerous substance and later released on a summons under the state Attorney General’s Bail Reform Policy.

Grogan was identified as the investigation progressed, arrested later in the day on June 13 at a home on East 15th Street in Bayonne, where he was traced with the assistance of Bayonne Police Department detectives.

Grogan, who was found to be in possession of several items that had been stolen from the Hillside Drive residence, was charged with burglary and theft, Manco said. Additional charges are pending further investigation.

Grogan was taken from Bayonne to Manchester Police Headquarters for processing and is currently being held at the Ocean County Jail, Toms River.

The investigation is ongoing and the Manchester Police Department is seeking additional information from the public regarding this incident. Information can be reported to Detective Adam Emmons at 732-657-2009, Ext. 4203.

Residents are reminded that suspicious activity can be reported to the Manchester Township Police Department anonymously at 732-657-6111 or online via the Department’s website, www.manchesterpolicenj.com, by clicking the “Tip Line” link.

John Grogan, via Ocean County Corrections Department; Items recovered in the burglary via Manchester Township Police Department