The following recent arrests were made and reported by Middletown police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.

• Michael Kiernan, 61, of Monmouth Avenue in Atlantic Highlands, was arrested on Aug. 13 by Patrolman Adam Colfer and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of heroin.

He was released pending a court date.

• Jeffrey Rodre, 18, of Chapman Terrace in Middletown, was arrested on Aug. 15 by Patrolman Frank Mazza and charged with simple assault.

He was released pending a court date.

• Edward Gross, 26, of Nautilus Drive in the Leonardo section of Middletown, was arrested on Aug. 13 by Detective Albert Scott and charged with shoplifting and conspiracy.

He was released after posting $2,500 bail with a 10 percent option set by Judge Richard Thompson.

• Paul Ortiz, 52, of Ocean Avenue in Middletown, was arrested on Aug. 12 by Patrolman Adam Colfer and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, shoplifting, criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools and possession of crack cocaine.

He was held on $11,000 bail, set by Judge Richard Thompson.

Continue reading Police: Area Teen Arrested on Attempted Sexual Assault Charges; $350K Bail →

News

State Police: ID of Boat Found in Sandy Hook Channel Confirmed

August 26, 2015 Elaine Van Develde

NJ State Police have confirmed that the sunken fishing boat found Wednesday morning in the area where the one named El Jefe was reported to have capsized is the same vessel.

“State Police divers confirm sunken boat is ‘El Jefe,'” a NJ State Police Twitter message said. “Presence of a body on board not confirmed. Activity suspended, will resume tomorrow.”

On Wednesday morning, when the boat was found, state police issued a statement saying it had not yet been confirmed that the trawler they found was the El Jefe.

It is believed that Captain Tom Andresen (stet), who docked his boat at the Belford Seafood Co-op, Middletown, near the area where the incident occurred on Tuesday night, was on the boat, according to a Facebook post on the co-op’s page.

Not a member of the Belford Co-op, Andresen (stet) had been docking his boat at the Co-op inlet, according to Facebook posts.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Captain Tom Andresen tonight,” a Tuesday night post said. “His boat, El Jefe, is reported to have capsized off the coast of Sandy Hook this evening. Captain Tom is said to have been on board alone, and has not been located, as of yet. We pray for his safe recovery … Mr Andresen is from New York, and has recently been docking his boat here in Belford.”

News

Sunken Boat Located off Sandy Hook

August 26, 2015 Elaine Van Develde

As the search continued for a fishing boat that was reported to have capsized off the shore of Sandy Hook Tuesday afternoon, NJ State Police on Wednesday morning announced that a submerged vessel, not yet determined to be the same one, was found.

A search was launched Tuesday afternoon, by state police, U.S. Coast Guard, NY Police and Fire departments and local emergency response units, for the 40-foot fishing boat named El Jefe that was reported to have sank at about 4:30 p.m.

Coast Guard reported in a release that debris purportedly from the sunken vessel was found in the water Tuesday night.

The search was called off last night, due to lack of visibility and prohibitive conditions, and resumed in the morning, when a sunken boat was located in Sandy Hook Channel near the spot where the El Jefe was reported to have gone down.

The El Jefe’s captain was known as a fisherman out of the Belford Seafood Co-op in Middletown, near where the boat was found.

The statement from NJ State Police Marine Services Bureau …

The New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau has located a sunken vessel in the Sandy Hook Channel.

A State Police vessel, commanded by Staff Sgt. Christopher Wozniak, located a sunken vessel at 8:55 a.m.

The boat was located near buoy 14 closer to the beach, using side scan sonar. State Police T.E.A.M.S. Unit divers are on scene to further investigate.

A vessel “Jefe” was reported missing last night and is part of the State Police investigation. At this time, we cannot confirm that the sunken vessel is the missing boat.