Ocean Township — Police say that two men committed a burglary just hours after being charged with heroin possession and released on a summons.
According to the Ocean Township Police Department, on Feb. 7, Detectives Michael Melody and Jessie Orbach were on patrol in the area of Monmouth Road and Wells Avenue when they stopped a vehicle operated by Ethan Haacker, 19, of Oakhurst.
Following an investigation, Haacker and his front seat passenger Eric Xenakis, 20, of Oakhurst, were found to be in possession of 89 bags of heroin. Both were arrested and taken to the Township of Ocean Police Headquarters for processing, and were charged with possession of heroin.
Haacker was additionally charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle. Both were released on complaint summonses to await a future court hearing.
Approximately one hour after being released from police custody, police were alerted to a residential burglary on Lewis Street in Oakhurst where money and jewelry were taken.
A follow up investigation by Detective Sergeant John Green and Detective Bryan Morgan identified Haacker and Xenakis suspects in that burglary. At approximately 4:00 p.m. Haacker was taken into custody in the area of Highway 35 and West Park Avenue.
Police say Xenakis fled the area and was located by Officer Casey Larrison hiding in a basement area of the Cobblestone Village Shopping Center.
Stolen jewelry taken from the burglary was located in Haacker ’s car. Police believe that the burglary was committed by Haacker and Xenakis immediately following their release from police custody.
As a result of the Oakhurst burglary, Haacker was charged with burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary. Xenakis was charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, obstruction, criminal trespass and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bail was set by Judge Louis Garripo at $100,000 with no ten percent option. Both were taken to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution to await a future court hearing. Haacker’s vehicle was subsequently seized under the state criminal forfeiture guidelines for being used in the commission of a crime.
Eatontown Memorial Student is 10,000th Child to Benefit from Free Vision Screening by New Jersey’s Eatontown Lions Club The Eatontown Lions Club began its sixth year of vision screening with a bang on Thursday, September 14, 2023. As a result of partnering with the Eatontown and Ocean Township School Districts the Lions club provided the 10,000th free vision screening. On Thursday in recognition as the 10,000th screening recipient, Ashton Vassor, an eighth-grade student at Eatontown’s Memorial School, was given a citation and gift card from the Lions Club. Ashton has been screened annually by the Lions since second grade. Also given a Lions Club Certificate was Memorial School Nurse Lucy Craig, one of the first Eatontown School District nurses to collaborate with the Lions when vision screening began in 2017. She was Ashton’s school nurse at Meadowbrook School when his vision was first screened. Working in conjunction with school nurses, vision screenings are done annually by the Eatontown Lions in September and October for students in Pre-K through 8th grade. “We really appreciate your help as well as the support of the Lions. Your work and partnership with us make a difference. The vision screening process as well as the resources the Lions provide to our students if a vision problem is discovered help our students to be in a better position to learn and succeed. Thank you.” said Scott T. McCue, Superintendent Eatontown Public Schools More than 12 million school-age children in the United States have some form of vision problem. Many vision problems run the risk of becoming permanent if not corrected by the time the eye reaches full maturity. Vision also plays an important role in education. According to educational experts, 80 percent of learning is visual. “Early screening leads to early detection, which helps ensure that children get the follow-up care they need,” said Club President Linda Butler. “We want to make sure that cor