Resident faces assault charge

JACKSON - A township resident has been arrested and charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

According to police, Raheem Carson, 21, of Fox Drive, was arrested by Jackson police on May 28 and placed in the Ocean County jail, Toms River, in default of $50,000 bail.

In a press release, police Capt. David Newman said that at 8:15 p.m. May 28 officer George Vidalis and several other officers responded to the Dove Mills Apartments, Bennetts Mills Road, after receiving a report of a physical dispute involving numerous individuals. Newman said that when the officers arrived they found several people in the parking lot who were highly agitated.

As the officers attempted to calm the situation they learned that a 13-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted and the suspect had fled on foot, according to the press release. Information about the incident was provided by the mother of the victim.

Newman said it was learned that the alleged sexual assault on the teenager took place during the early morning hours of May 28 at the apartment of Carson's girlfriend, who also resides in the Dove Mills Apartments.

Carson was located in the area by officer Joseph Candido and transported to police headquarters where he was questioned and later charged by Detective Howard Bogan.

The 13-year-old victim was treated at Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood, and released.

Assisting in the investigation were the Ocean County Sheriff's Department Criminal Investigation Unit, Detective William Pozalante, and a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner team from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.