Four face charges in Jackson
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

JACKSON - Police arrested four suspects after a caller reported that he had been threatened by individuals who forced entry to his home. Police were dispatched to an Oregon Avenue residence at 5 p.m. April 20.

In a press release, Sgt. Steven Laskiewicz reported that there was a report of a group of people threatening a resident and trying to get him to come out of the house to fight. Laskiewicz said while officers were on their way to the residence the caller/victim advised the dispatcher that the people outside had forced entry into his house and were threatening him. There were also reports from the victim and other residents that the suspects mentioned that they had a gun and were going to shoot the victim.

The suspects fled the scene prior to the arrival of the officers.

Police Officer Edward Travisano and Laskiewicz were on County Line Road as the suspects' vehicle turned from Brook-wood Parkway onto West County Line Road. Travisano and Laskiewicz were joined by Police Officer Joseph Candido at the scene as the officers conducted a felony stop with the suspected vehicle.

Police said three adults and one juvenile were taken into custody and transported to police headquarters for processing.

Police said Shawn Crippen, 40, of Lakewood, was charged with burglary for entering the Oregon Avenue residence and for making terroristic threats to the victim. Crippen was transported to the Ocean County jail, Toms River, and bail was set at $35,000.

Christine Crippen, 38, of Lakewood, was charged with burglary and making terroristic threats. Bryan McCray, 18, of Lakewood, was charged with disorderly conduct. He was released pending a court date, Laskiewicz said.

Police said a 16-year-old male resident of Jackson was taken into custody and charged with weapons possession. The teenager was found with a butterfly knife in his possession. During his processing at police headquarters, the juvenile became violent and assaulted Laskiewicz.

Juvenile complaints for possession of a knife and assault on a police officer were signed against the youth. He was later released to his mother's custody.

Although it was determined that a threat had been made to use a gun, no firearm was recovered at the scene on Oregon Avenue. The incident apparently stemmed from an ongoing dispute between the parties, police said.

Jackson police officers who assisted with the arrests were officers Greg Schmidt, Darin McClain, Christopher Wasnesky, George Vidalis, Detective Howard Bogan, Detective John Giovanetti, Laskiewicz, Travisano and Candido.