'Suspicious Vehicle' At Liquor Store Leads To Illegal Gun Possession Charge In Manchester: Police

MANCHESTER, NJ -- A Monmouth County man has been charged with illegally having a handgun after police conducting surveillance saw a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of a liquor store, Manchester police said Thursday.

Robert T. Shope, 27, of Heights Terrace, Middletown, has been charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, Manchester Lt. Vincent Manco said. He is being held at the Ocean County Jail, Toms River, in lieu of $50,000 bail, jail records confirm.

Manco said the Manchester Township Police Narcotics Enforcement Team was conducting surveillance Friday evening when officers saw a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot at Ridgeway Liquors, 3875 Ridgeway Road, about 6 p.m. 

The subsequent investigation by narcotics officers led police to believe that there was a handgun inside of vehicle, Manco said, and it was towed to Manchester police headquarters, where a court-authorized search warrant was obtained later that evening. The search warrant was executed, resulting in the recovery of a 9mm Smith and Wesson handgun from within the front passenger compartment of the vehicle, Manco said.

Shope was then arrested, Manco said.

Assisting in this investigation were members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Group and the Manchester Police Patrol Bureau, he said.

(Robert T. Shope photo via Ocean County Corrections Department; gun photo provided by Manchester Township police)