Man Assaulted Woman At Manchester Campground: Police

MANCHESTER, NJ — Authorities searching a Manchester Township home for a man wanted in connection with an attack at a campground found two children in a bed covered in dirty laundry, left unsupervised, police said.

Rameek I. Peace, 31, was arrested Friday and charged with aggravated assault and terroristic threats in the incident that happened Oct. 21, Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said.

He is accused of attacking a woman inside a sport utility vehicle at the Surf and Stream Campground on Route 571 about 1:40 p.m. on Oct. 21, then threatening several people with a handgun when they tried to intervene, Malland said. He fled before police arrived.

The investigation led to searches on Friday of Peace's home on Route 70, and of a rented Chevy Malibu that he had been seen driving, Malland said.

Authorities searching Peace's home found the children, a 2-month-old and 2-year-old, in a bed covered in dirty laundry, Malland said. They were unsupervised. The children ultimately were released to their mother and the Department of Child Protection and Permanency was called, he said.

Peace was found driving the Chevy, and when authorities pulled it over and searched it they found a silver-and-black, .40-caliber Springfield XD handgun loaded with hollow-point bullets, Malland said. Also seized were 1,000 wax folds of heroin with an approximate street value of $5,000, $2,020 in cash, and additional ammunition.

The handgun matched the description provided by multiple victims and witnesses to the campground incident, and Peace was arrested, Malland said.

In addition to aggravated assault and terroristic threats, Peace was charged with possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, certain persons not to have weapons, endangering the welfare of children, possession of heroin, possession with intent to distribute heroin, money laundering, possession of hollow-point bullets, possession of a large-capacity magazine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Detective Adam Emmons led the investigation that included the Manchester Township Police Investigations Bureau, Narcotics Enforcement Team, K-9 Unit and Patrol Bureau, along with the Lakewood Police Department, the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

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

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