On October 5th a 42 year old Lakewood man walked into police headquarters to report that he was robbed a few hours earlier by a man purporting to be a law enforcement officer.

The victim told Officer Matthew Rivera, that while driving east on Cross Street the suspect pulled along side of him and ordered him to pull off to the side of the road.

After coming to a stop, the suspect, wearing dark clothing and a baseball style hat marked “POLICE” across the front, approached the victim and asked for his drivers license and to exit the vehicle.

He was then told to place his hands on his vehicle so the suspect could check his pockets. After taking approximately $670 from the victim, the suspect told him that he was returning to his car to write him a ticket.

Instead, the suspect made a U-Turn and fled the area west on Cross Street.

Officer Chase Messer, who is currently assigned to the Detective Bureau, recalled a similar incident that occurred at 194 New Hampshire Avenue in Lakewood on June 27th and an additional one in Brick, NJ back on July 14, 2015.

According to Officer Messer, Brick PD investigated a very similar incident in which 40 yr old Michael Vence of Brick was charged and arrested.

Further investigation, revealed that Vence was responsible for both the June 27th and October 5th Robberies in Lakewood as well.

As a result, Michael Vence, with the assistance of officers from the Lakewood Police Department Street Crimes Unit and Brick Police, located Vence as he was driving a 2013 gray Hyundai in the Wendy’s parking lot on Rt. 70 near Cedarbridge Avenue.

At the time of his arrest, he was found to be in the possession of two bundles of heroin, associated paraphernalia and evidence pertaining to the crime of impersonating a law enforcement officer.

As a result, Michael Vence was charged with two counts of Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer, two counts of Theft, Possession of CDS and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Bail was set at $30,000and he was later transported to Ocean County Jail.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)