By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on October 7, David Lemmon, 67, of Bayville, pled guilty to Eluding before the Honorable Kenneth T. Palmer, J.S.C., in connection with an incident that occurred November 8, 2023, in Manchester Township.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, at the time of his sentencing on January 10, 2025, the State will be seeking a term of five years in New Jersey State Prison.
County officials stated that on November 8, 2023, as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force observed Lemmon operating a motor vehicle with John McDaniel, 47, of Toms River, as a passenger.
Detectives surveilled Lemmon as he drove to the Trenton area before returning to Ocean County, officials say. A Manchester Township marked police unit attempted to effectuate a motor vehicle stop on Lemmon’s vehicle in the area of Ridgeway Road.
As Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, Lemmon drove away in a reckless manner - traveling at a high rate of speed and cutting in front of other motorists, Ocean County officials said.
Police say officers terminated the pursuit due to safety concerns.
A short time later, McDaniel was observed walking on Railroad Avenue in Lakehurst by Officers from the Lakehurst Police Department, at which time he was taken into custody without incident, officials stated.
County officials said McDaniel was charged with Possession of Less than One-Half an Ounce of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Possess Less than One-Half an Ounce of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Heroin, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
He was transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform. Authorities say the charges against McDaniel remain pending at this time.
Narcotic officials say Lemmon was thereafter located at a residence in Whiting and taken into custody by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force without incident.
He was transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform, according to officials.