MIDDLETOWN – Around noon on October 21, Township police officers Cpl. Bernard Chenoweth and Cpl. George responded to a report of a burglary in progress at a residence on Marion Drive.
Upon arrival at the residence, Chenoweth observed a subject later identified as Scott Gibson, age 27, from Bartram Road in Englishtown, running from the residence carrying a bag of stolen items. Corporal Chenoweth chased the subject on foot and was able to take him into custody after a brief struggle.
Chenoweth and Freibott continued their investigation and determined that Gibson was working with a second subject. The officers identified the second subject as Robert Molchan, age 21, from Deer Way in Manalapan, and provided his name to officers in the area. Patrolman Richard Belmonte was working a traffic detail on Middletown Lincroft Road and observed a subject fitting Molchan’s description walking in the area. Officer Belmonte stopped the subject and confirmed it was Molchan at which point he was placed under arrest.
Detective William Strohkirch and Detective Adam Finck conducted a follow up investigation and determined that the pair was also responsible for committing a burglary on Courtney Way earlier in the day. Gibson was charged with Burglary, Conspiracy, Theft, Resisting Arrest, and Criminal Mischief. He was held on $30,000 bail with no 10 percent payment option for release permitted.
Molchan was charged with Burglary, Theft and Conspiracy. He was held on $20,000 bail with no 10 percent payment option for release permitted.
Police believe the two subjects are responsible for other burglaries in the area and are continuing their investigation.
