The Montgomery News | Posted January 31, 2024
Two men, including a 28-year-old Belle Mead resident, are accused of carjacking a friend's vehicle while driving with him to Asbury Park on Sunday, police said. The victim was left on the side of the road, uninjured.
Wall Township Police responded to the reported carjacking on Interstate 195 and State Highway Route 34. The victim reported that his vehicle was stolen by two male passengers who were in the vehicle. The three occupants of the vehicle all knew each other and were traveling to Asbury Park when this incident occurred on Sunday January 28 at 12:34 am, police said.
The Asbury Park Police located the stolen vehicle in Asbury Park. Police arrested Nicholas Grande, 28, of Belle Mead and Biagio Toto, 25, of Plainsboro as the result of the investigation.
Toto was charged with carjacking, theft of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, three counts of possession of controlled dangerous substances, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, police said. Toto was processed and remanded to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution.
Grande was charged with receiving stolen property, two counts of possession of controlled dangerous substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also charged with two counts of failure to make lawful disposition (NJ law not only prohibits someone from being in possession of drugs or using drugs, but also establishes a criminal offense for failing to hand over drugs to police once the person is aware of the existence of the CDS.) Following processing, Grande was released on a summons.
Wall Township police and detectives are further investigating. “While this incident is very alarming, it is important that the public knows the three men involved knew each other and this wasn’t a random act of violence,” says Wall Police Chief Sean O’Halloran.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all the trial rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and New Jersey State Law.
