Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor and Manville Borough Chief of Police Mark Peltack announced that approximately 80 additional cars (approximately 130 tires) had tires slashed between midnight and 3 a.m. on August 22nd.
Officials say these incidents occurred within the Northwest section of Manville Borough, specifically the areas of North 3rd Avenue and North 13th Avenue, between Knopf Street and Dukes Parkway.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Manville Police Department are conducting interviews and working to recover video surveillance footage of this most recent incident.
An Investigation revealed that the suspect is described as a Caucasian male, wearing a dark-colored hooded jacket.
According to Prosecutor Robertson, the Crime Stoppers of Somerset County, Inc. is still offering a reward up to $750.00 for information leading to the arrest of the individual or individuals responsible the tire slashing. Information can be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org. All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
Anyone with information can also contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100, or the Manville Police Department at (908) 725-7677 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.
The following information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence.
The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed.