Off-Duty Officer From Robbinsville Helps Nab Suspected Shoplifter

BRICK, NJ — Two off-duty police officers put an end to an attempted shoplifter's plans at a Home Depot in Brick on Monday, and one of them was from Mercer County, according to Brick police.

Matthew Hill, a police officer from Robbinsville, was at the store when he heard Paul Catalina yelling out that he was a Brick police officer. Hill ran over to assist, according to Brick Police Sgt. Neil Pedersen.

Catalina had been chasing 41-year-old Brian Eckardt, of Manahawkin. It all began when Catalina was getting out of his vehicle at the Home Depot on Route 88 about 3:45 p.m. and a beeping noise caught his attention, Pedersen said.

He looked toward the building exit and saw Eckardt leaving the store carrying two hard cases that are typically used to store tools, and wrapped with an anti-theft device that was beeping. Behind Eckardt was a Home Depot employee, who was following him and telling him to return to the store, Pedersen said.

Instead of going back into the store, however, Eckardt started to walk faster and then began to run, and Catalina realized he was trying to get away, Pedersen said. So Catalina ran toward Eckardt and caught up to him just as Eckardt was getting into a 2014 Hyundai Sonata, he said.

This is when Hill got involved. Catalina told Eckardt he was under arrest and ordered him out of the car, but Eckardt started the car and put it in drive while Catalina reached in and tried to turn the vehicle off, Pedersen said. Eckardt then put the car in park and Hill helped Catalina restrain and arrest Eckardt, he said.

Shortly after Eckardt was in custody Patrolman Keith Prendeville, Detective Dan Waleski, and Patrolman Wynn arrived and Eckardt was turned over to them, Pedersen said. A Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drill Kit, valued at $399, and a DeWalt Compact Brushless Drill/Driver Kit, valued at $199, were recovered, he said.

Eckardt was charged with shoplifting, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a hypodermic syringe and released on a summons, he said.

Story written by Karen Wall, Patch Staff

Photo by Renee Schiavone, Patch Staff