p oli C e B lotter County Man Charged With Arson And Robbery

By Chris Lundy

LAKEWOOD – A man was accused of robbing a man and then setting two fires in one night.

Ricardo Buitron, 21, of Lakewood, was charged with two counts of Aggravated Arson, Robbery, and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.

On March 9, at around 11:30 p.m., a man came to police headquarters and told them he was a victim of a robbery in the area of Lexington Avenue and Fourth Street. The suspect threatened the man with a pair of scissors. The victim said he pushed the suspect away and he fled.

Police said they went to the area to look for him, and were flagged down by someone who said a fire started behind a business. These officers put out the fire and started cleaning up the debris when they noticed another fire and put that out. The fires were contained to a sweatshirt and a cardboard box that had both been doused with flammable liquid. The odor of gasoline was present inside the building, which had businesses and residences. The witness who told them about the fire gave a description of the suspect, which matched the description of the suspect of the robbery. Investigation led to Buitron as the perpetrator and he was arrested shortly thereafter, police said.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer thanked the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime-Arson Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department, Lakewood Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit for their cooperative assistance in connection with this investigation leading to Buitron’s apprehension. Charges are merely accusations until proven in a court of law.

Local Man Charged With Kidnapping

By Chris Lundy

JACKSON

– A man was accused of kidnapping his girlfriend and his child after she called police for help twice – being cut off both times.

Gerson Aguilar-Lara, 24, of Lakewood, was charged with two counts of Kidnapping, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Robbery, police said.

On March 7 at around 10:30 p.m., police received a 911 call from a woman but it was quickly disconnected. Police said that upon callback, the woman was able to give her name and basic information before the call was cut off again.

Police were able to determine that she lived on North Chapel Road in Jackson. They learned that she and her infant had been taken from the home against their will by her boyfriend. The suspect had put them into a Chevrolet Equinox and fled the area. Other police departments were alerted to the situation and Toms River officers spotted the car going into a parking lot on Route 37 at around 3:15 a.m. When Aguilar-Lara fled on foot, he was taken into custody soon after. The mother and child were unhurt.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Jackson Township Police Chief Matthew Kunz thanked the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Offenders Unit, Jackson Township Police Department, Jackson Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Lakewood Township Police Department, Toms River Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, and New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Aguilar-Lara’s apprehension. Charges are merely accusations until proven in a court of law.