Brick Dad, 36, Dies Suddenly, Leaves Pregnant Wife, Young Son
The Brick Township community is mourning the sudden loss of local dad Matthew Michael Matera, who died unexpectedly at his home on Sept. 10, according to his obituary from the Weatherhead Young Funeral Home. He was 36.
Matera was born in Point Pleasant and spent his childhood in Cape Coral, FL, before returning to New Jersey, where he built a life with his wife, Jen, according to his obituary. Together, they were raising their 2½-year-old son, Matthew James “MJ,” and were expecting their second son this November, his obituary reads.
Matera owned Triple M. Motors in Point Pleasant, wher…
Brick Man Fled Scene After Crashing 69 Chevy Camaro: Prosecutor
A 54-year-old Brick Township man was arrested after he crashed a 1969 Chevy Camaro and fled the scene on Wednesday, July 2, authorities said.
At 8 p.m., Brick Township police responded to Schoener Drive and Brick Boulevard and found the Camaro had crashed into a utility pole and Nicholas Lotito, the driver, left the scene on foot, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
Lotito lost control of the Camaro before crashing, Billhimer said. Two passengers in the car also left the scene, with one later checking into a nearby hospital, where he was treated and released, Billhimer said.
Lo…
South Amboy Man Who Fatally Struck Mother Of 4, Left Scene, Learns Fate: Prosecutor
A 21-year-old South Amboy resident was sentenced to six years in prison on Friday, June 13, after he previously pleaded guilty to fatally striking a pedestrian and leaving the scene in a crash last year, authorities said.
On Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at 9:15 p.m., Brick Township police responded to Route 35 South and Bay Avenue after a pedestrian, Julia Sutton, a 56-year-old Weehawken resident, who was out jogging, was struck by a 1999 Ford Explorer that fled the scene, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
Sutton was taken to Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center, wh…
Toms River Arsonist Admits To Starting Brick Blaze That Injured 3 Firefighters: Prosecutors
A 51-year-old Toms River man pleaded guilty on Monday, June 9, to intentionally starting a fire in Brick Township, injuring three firefighters, authorities said.
Charles Maulbeck pleaded guilty to arson and criminal mischief, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. Per the terms of a plea agreement, he is expected to be sentenced to three years in prison, Billhimer said.
On Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, Brick Township police saw smoke and heavy fire at a home on Falkenberg Road, Billhimer said. Two firefighters were treated and released from a nearby hospital, while a third dec…
Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Brick Armed Robbery: Prosecutor
A 50-year-old Brooklyn man pleaded guilty on Friday, May 23, to committing a robbery at gunpoint in Brick Township in 2023, authorities said.
Per the terms of the plea agreement, Vongvichit Vatthanavong is expected to be sentenced to 12.5 years in prison in July, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
On Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, at 12:20 a.m. Brick Township police responded to a report of a robbery at a residence on Pershing Avenue, Billhimer said.
As a homeowner was exiting his vehicle and approaching his residence, he was approached by three masked individuals - one of them armed…
Jackson Man Arrested In Toms River Murder Hours After Cops Responded To Home For Stabbing
A Jackson Township man was arrested and charged after two people were stabbed — one fatally — during a violent early morning altercation at a Toms River home, officials said.
Steven McNeill, 32, was charged with Murder, Attempted Murder, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon, and Eluding, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer
The attack happened on Friday, May 9, around 7:20 a.m., when Toms River Police responded to a 911 call about an altercation on Adams Avenue. The call was made …
90 Burglaries, 230 Charges: Serial NJ Burglar Busted, Brick Police Say
A Berkeley Township man has been arrested and hit with more than 200 charges after committing more than 90 burglaries in Monmouth and Ocean counties, authorities said.
Between December 2024 and January 2025, officers investigated 40 burglaries committed at the CubeSmart storage facility off Route 70, Brick Township police said. The suspect, later identified as Craig Orler, cut through a fence and used bolt cutters to access the storage unit, police said.
Items stolen included an ATV, a motorcycle, car parts, a car engine and various personal items, police said.
Orler was selling the items …
Brick Man Touched 8-Year-Old At Walmart, Busted Shoplifting At Target: Prosecutor
A 24-year-old Brick Township man was arrested and charged while shoplifting at Target after being inappropriate with a child at Walmart, authorities announced on Monday, April 21.
On Wednesday, April 9, an 8-year-old girl was standing in the aisle at Walmart on 1872 Route 88 when a man, later identified as Sean Slowinski, approached her, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. While standing near her, Slowinski grabbed the girl's hand and put it in his sweatshirt pocket, engaging with her verbally before walking away, Billhimer said.
On Friday, April 18, Brick Township police respon…
NY Man Crashes Van, Tries Carjacking, Hops In Police Cruiser During Ocean County Crime Spree
A New York man living in Atlantic City turned a Jersey Shore crime spree into chaos—smashing into an Audi, trying to yank a woman from her car, and climbing into a patrol cruiser before being dragged out by officers, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced on Wednesday, April 16.
Andrew Williams, 45, pleaded guilty to eluding, burglary, and fraudulent use of a credit card after his wild day in Brick and Stafford townships on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021.
Stolen Wallets, Crashed Van, Attempted Carjacking
It all started when an off-duty Brick Township officer saw two men near a blaring…
South Amboy Man Admits to Fatally Striking Mother Of Four, Leaving Scene: Prosecutor
A 21-year-old South Amboy resident pleaded guilty on Thursday, April 3, to fatally striking a pedestrian and leaving the scene in a crash last year, authorities said.
As part of a plea agreement, Mark Carey is expected to be sentenced to six years in prison in June, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
On Saturday, Jan. 13, at 9:15 p.m., Brick Township police responded to Route 35 South and Bay Avenue after a pedestrian, Julia Sutton, a 56-year-old Weehawken resident, who was out jogging, was struck by a 1999 Ford Explorer that fled the scene, Billhimer said.
Sutton was taken t…
Raid Nets Marijuana, $279K In Cash Seized From Brick Township Man: Ocean County Prosecutor
A 37-year-old Brick Township man was arrested and charged after drugs were seized from his residence on Tuesday, Feb. 11, authorities said.
James Giordano was using a residence on Hammock Road to store and distribute marijuana and psilocybin, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
During a search of his residence, detectives seized approximately 18 lbs. of marijuana, 3.5 lbs. of hashish/THC Oil, 14 oz. of THC edibles, 12 oz. of psilocybin, and $62,000 in United States currency, Billhimer said.
Additionally, detectives seized approximately $279,000 from Gi…
Brutal Brick Stabbing: Manchester Man Learns His Fate: Prosecutor
A 37-year-old Manchester man was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Friday, Jan. 17, after stabbing a woman in early 2023, authorities said.
Harry Bray had previously pleaded guilty to attempted murder, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
On Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023 at 5:30 p.m., a Brick Township police officer was conducting a routine check of the area, when he observed a vehicle with two flat tires, Billhimer said.
Upon further examination, the officer found a woman on the ground near the vehicle suffering from multiple stab wounds, Billhimer said. The woman was trans…
