MANCHESTER — A Barnegat man was charged with robbery at ShopRite on Route 70 in the township Saturday night, police said.
Thomas Tomlinson, 28, was charged with robbery, assault and theft, said Capt. Lisa Parker of the Manchester Township Police Department. He also faces charges of eluding in Lakehurst. Bail was set at $150,000 with no 10 percent option on the Manchester Township charges and $100,000 with no 10 percent option on the Lakehurst charges.
Tomlinson was taken to Ocean County Jail after not posting bail, Parker said.
Police responded to the ShopRite at 8:33 p.m. Saturday. When they arrived they were told a man had taken an unknown amount of money out of a 59-year-old female cashier?s register, Parker said.
The cashier told police she was getting change from the till for a customer when the suspect emerged out of nowhere and shoved her away from the register, Parker said.
When the cashier attempted to cover the till, the suspect used his shoulder to pin her against the conveyor belt, Parker said. The cashier injured her left hand, but refused medical treatment.
The suspect left the ShopRite and ran into the parking lot after taking the money, Parker said. Witnesses saw the suspect get into a white Subaru wagon and exit the parking lot in an unknown direction.
After the incident, Lakehurst police saw a white Subaru wagon in the parking lot of Circle Plaza off Route 70, Parker said. When police approached the car, the suspect put the car in reverse and began to pull out of the parking space. Police ordered the suspect to stop, but he ignored them and sped out of the parking lot, Parker said.
Lakehurst police were able to get the license plate number of the Subaru and trace it to Tomlinson, Parker said.
At 6:45 a.m. Sunday morning, and off-duty Manchester police officer saw the white Subaru in the Wawa parking lot at the intersection of Lighthouse and Bay Avenue in Barnegat, Parker said.
The police officer confirmed the license plate number and called Barnegat police for assistance. The driver of the white Subaru was then taken into custody without incident, Parker said.
Manchester police are continuing to investigate the incident. The Ocean County Sheriff?s Department Criminal Investigative Unit and the Manchester Township First Aid squad assisted at the scene.
The Asbury Park Press asked the Manchester police department for a photo of the suspect, but it declined. State law allows authorities discretion in releasing suspect photos, but they often refuse to do so, saying they are prohibited by the county Prosecutor?s Office.
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