Man Beaten In Toms River Restaurant Restroom, Car Stolen: Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Two Barnegat teens have been charged after a man was beaten up in a restaurant restroom and his car stolen, Toms River police said Friday.

The 25-year-old victim told police he was in the restroom washing his hands shortly after 2 a.m. on Sept. 17 when he was assaulted by two males, said Jillian Messina, media relations specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

After they assaulted him, they took his keys and left in his car, which was parked in the parking lot of the restaurant, on Route 37 East, she said.

The victim was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment; meanwhile, his car was found in Barnegat by Barnegat Township police, Messina said.

The investigation led to the arrest of Michael Fischkelta, 18 of Barnegat, and a 17-year-old male from Barnegat, she said.

Fischkelta was charged with robbery, simple assault and theft; he was taken to the Ocean County Jail but released to await trial. Juvenile complaints were approved for the 17-year-old for robbery, aggravated assault and theft, and he was processed and released. All charges were approved by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, she said.

The Toms River Police Department would like to thank the Barnegat Township Police Department, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigation Unit and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.