Toms River Man Sought; Woman Tased, Choked, Left In Woods: PD

JACKSON, NJ — Jackson Township police are searching for a Toms River man who is accused of repeatedly shocking a woman with a taser at a Wawa and then driving her into the woods and stranding her.

Jesse J. Shawger, 26, of Toms River, is being sought in the incident that happened Tuesday afternoon, Jackson Capt. Steven Laskiewicz said Wednesday.

Police were called to a home on Melissa Lee Drive about 2:20 p.m. after a resident reported the woman had come out of the woods screaming for help.

The woman told police she had picked up Shawger, whom she knew, at a Jackson residence and drove to a nearby Wawa parking lot, where the couple sat talking inside the vehicle. While they were talking, the woman alleges, Shawger started using cocaine and shocked her with a taser multiple times. The woman told police Shawger threatened her with the taser, warning her not to alert police to what was happening, and choked her, Laskiewicz said.

The woman crawled into the back seat of the vehicle and Shawger drove away; she was trapped in the back seat and unable to get out because the child safety locks were engaged. He then drove to Melissa Lee Drive, got out of the vehicle and dropped the keys on the ground, then threw the woman's cell phone into the woods before running away, Laskiewicz said.

Police searched the area but received information that Shawger had left. Detectives followed up, identifying Shawger and ultimately conferring with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office on complaints.

Shawger's residence is listed as Toms River but Laskiewicz said he may be staying at homes in Jackson. Shawger is charged with criminal restraint, robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and aggravated assault, he said. Police said he may still be in possession of the taser.

Anyone with information on Shawger’s location is asked to contact Detective Robert Reiff or Detective Michael Goelz of the Jackson Police Department at 732-928-1111 or information can be left anonymously at the department’s P3 Tips site.

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