Aberdeen Police Blotter: Intoxicated Driver Crashed Into House, Police Say.

An intoxicated driver crashed into an Aberdeen home, causing substantial damage, detectives uncovered a marijuana growing-operation, and officers arrested a man in connection with counterfeit credit cards, according to Aberdeen police.

Those were among the cases investigated between March 18 and 24.

During that time frame, Aberdeen police handled 339 calls for service, including 11 involving suspicious people or vehicles, 20 alarms, 16 first aid calls, 12 motor vehicle crashes, two disorderly persons cases, three domestic violence incidents, two welfare checks, one theft, one noise complaint, one burglary, one fraud, one utility complaint, and 131 motor vehicle stops. Officers issued 89 motor vehicle summonses.

Here are more details about some of those cases, according to Police Chief John T. Powers:

March 18

A 21-year-old township man was charged with simple assault following an incident on Netherwood Drive. Officer Martin Walsh was the arresting officer.
 A 31-year-old township woman was arrested on a contempt warrant out of Aberdeen municipal court. Officer Jessica McDougall was the arresting officer.


March 19

Oliver L. Norwood, 53, Neptune, was charged with receiving stolen property following a motor vehicle stop on Route 35. The vehicle he was driving was reported stolen out of Ocean Township. Officer Brian Alberti was the arresting officer.


March 20

Officer Martin Walsh arrested a 31-year-old township man on a contempt warrant out of Monmouth County Superior Court. 


A 34-year-old township man was charged with harassment following an incident on Laurelhurst Drive. Officer Frank Maisano was the arresting officer.

Sometime between midnight and 4 a.m. someone pried open the office door at the BP gas station on Route 35, entered the office, and took a quantity of cash. Officer Charles Trucillo investigated.


A South Concourse resident reported receiving a phone call from someone purporting to be from the Internal Revenue Service demanding money. Officer Frank Maisano responded.


Officer Jessica McDougall responded to a report of suspicious activity at Wellington Place. March 21 


Officer Jessica McDougall responded to a report of harassment on Idlewild Lane.


A Willow Avenue resident reported someone threw soda on his vehicle. Officer Jessica McDougall took the report.

March 22


 Robert C. Mergel, 22, of Second Street, Hazlet, was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while suspended, and reckless driving following a motor vehicle crash on Amboy Avenue. Mergel was driving a 1998 Dodge van north on Amboy Avenue, near Prospect Avenue when the vehicle left the roadway, went through a fence, and struck a house. There were no reported injuries, but the home, which was occupied at the time, sustained significant structural damage. P.O. Craig Hausmann was the arresting officer. Cliffwood Volunteer Fire Company, Aberdeen Township Hose and Chemical, and the township building official also responded.


March 23

Peter V. Discenza, 23, of Dogwood Lane, Hazlet, was charged with three counts of use of a counterfeit credit card related to incidents at three township businesses in February. Detective Louis Nanna was the arresting officer.


Clive M. Black III, 50, of Springlawn Ave., Aberdeen, was charged with possession of marijuana and the manufacture and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance after a search of his residence revealed he was growing marijuana in his basement. Detective Anthony Valentino and detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Bayshore Narcotics Strike Force investigated.



A resident of Icemeadow Lane reported someone used her social security number to file a fraudulent federal income tax return. Officer John Young responded.


Officer Mary Johnston responded to a report of criminal mischief at the Matawan- Aberdeen Middle School, Matawan Avenue.