Turtles, Drugs, 'Explosive Device' Seized At Man's Home: TRPD

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River police released more details about the arrest of a man on Monday and the significant law enforcement response to his Toms River home after he showed up at police headquarters with a loaded shotgun.

James Kelly, 56, of Toms River, was being held in the Ocean County Jail as of Wednesday evening, said Jillian Messina, media specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

Kelly came to police headquarters about 7 a.m. Monday and pulled into a restricted "police personnel only" parking area at the police department, she said. He then contacted a Toms River Township EMS employee and claimed he was at the police department to turn himself in. Police came to the area and found Kelly sitting in his car with a loaded shotgun across his lap, Messina said.

Kelly, whose pet German shepherd was in the car with him, was taken into custody without incident or injury to himself or the officers, she said. Kelly's dog, which was not injured, was brought to the Toms River Animal Facility to be cared for.

The dog was not Kelly's only pet, it turned out. Because of Kelly's actions, police went to his home on Egret Drive to check on anyone else who might have been in the home, Messina said. Police found there were no other human occupants, but they did find a 500-pound pig in the home. Along with the pig and the dog, Kelly had several turtles. The pig and turtles were taken by Toms River Animal Control personnel and are being cared for at the Toms River animal facility while Kelly awaits a detention hearing, Messina said. READ MORE: 500-Pound Pig, Ammunition Seized From Toms River Home: Police

In their search of the home to ensure no one was injured, officers found various types of firearms and ammunition out in the open throughout the home, Messina said. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and police seized firearms and ammunition as well as what was believed to be a military antipersonnel device and an unknown powder inside the home, she said.

The discovery of the antipersonnel device prompted a call to the New Jersey State Police Bomb Unit and the New Jersey State Police Hazardous Materials Team, so they could assess the safety of the items being seized, Messina said.

The anti-personnel device was later determined to be an inert training device. The powder found home was determined to be an opioid. Kelly was taken to Community Medical Center for a medical assessment. On Monday evening he was released from Community Medical Center and lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a hearing, Messina said.

Kelly was charged with several weapons offenses and possession of CDS (Controlled Dangerous Substance). He was also was charged with the unlawful possession of a loaded shotgun, as well as defiant trespassing for his actions at police headquarters.

Toms River police were assisted by the New Jersey State Police, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Toms River Office of Emergency Management, Toms River Animal Control personnel and Silverton and East Dover fire companies.

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Toms River Patch on Facebook.