Suspect sought in assault

Lakewood police are seeking a black man who is believed to be between the ages of 30 and 40 in connection with the Oct. 9 assault of a township man.

LAKEWOOD - Police are continuing to search for the suspect who assaulted a 53-year-old township resident on Oct. 9. Police believe an aluminum baseball bat that was recovered at the scene of the crime to be the weapon that was used during the assault.

According to information provided by Lakewood Detective Lt. Joseph Isnardi, at about 7:56 p.m. Oct. 9, Police Officer Summer Cunliffe responded to the area of Princeton Avenue and Carey Street for a report of an assault. Upon Cunliffe's arrival she encountered a male who was bleeding from his head and face, the victim of an obvious vicious assault, Isnardi reported.

Police identified the man as Mordechai Moskowitz, 53, of Lakewood.

Medical assistance was provided at the scene by Hatzolah first aid and MONOC paramedics. Moskowitz was transported by Hatzolah to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, were he was treated in the trauma unit and admitted. An update on Moskowitz's condition could not be obtained on Oct. 23.

Detectives from the Lakewood Police Department responded to the scene and began the follow-up investigation. They were assisted by the Ocean County Prosecutors Office, along with the Ocean County Sheriff's Department Criminalistics Investigation Unit (CIU) and K-9 Unit.

Isnardi said an aluminum baseball bat was recovered at the scene and is believed to be the weapon that was used during the assault. All evidence was collected by the CIU for forensic examination.

The assailant in this case is described as being a black male between 30 and 40 years old, clean shaven, wearing a dark plaid shirt and dark baggy pants. He is described as being about 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall. This individual was last seen running south on Princeton Avenue, according to police.

The investigation is being conducted by Lakewood police detectives Greg Staffordsmith and Steve Wexler, and Investigator Carlos Trujillo-Tovar from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Staffordsmith, (732) 363-0200, ext. 5341, Trijillo-Tovar, (732) 929-2027, ext. 3468, or Wexler, (732) 363-0200, ext. 5344.