Trio Charged In Attempted Home Invasion In Manchester

A resident’s wise decision thwarted an attempted home invasion and led to the arrest of three people in the incident in Manchester, police said.

Two men -- Dylan C. Cox, 23, of North Brunswick, and Ryan M. Ross, 23, of Lakehurst -- and a 15-year-old from Toms River are facing charges in the incident, Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said, which happened Friday.

The three were arrested after two Cedar Glen Homes residents called police to report seeing three men in the area. The first caller reported the three tried to get into a locked car on Central Street, Malland said.

The second caller said the three knocked at the door of a home on Hickory Street. The resident did not know the three and refused to answer the door, Malland said.

Manchester Patrolmen Kyle Rickvalsky and Charles Gatnarek responded to the calls and found the three walking in the community. Upon investigation, the officers found the three carrying items that appeared to have been stolen from vehicles.

The three were taken to police headquarters for further investigation, where Detective David Fusaro and Rickvalsky learned the three allegedly had conspired to commit and attempted to commit a home invasion in the Cedar Glen Homes community but were unsuccessful when the homeowner did not answer the door, Malland said. They then allegedly proceeded to commit a series of vehicle burglaries.

All three males were subsequently charged with one count conspiracy to commit robbery, two counts of burglary, one count of criminal attempt burglary, one count of criminal attempt theft, and one count of theft, he said.

Cox and Ross are being held at the Ocean County Jail, Toms River, in lieu of $100,000 bail each. The juvenile was taken to the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Facility, he said. The investigation is ongoing and there is a potential for additional charges and arrests, he said.

The Manchester Township Police Department reminds residents to be alert to their surroundings and contact the police when they observe suspicious activity. Residents can call the police at 732-657-6111 or submit crime tips through our website under “Tipline” at Manchesterpolicenj.com.