BARNEGAT POLICE REPORT: Youth Charged With Possessing Handgun

A 15-year-old male juvenile from Barnegat has been arrested and charged with shoplifting and possession of a handgun following an incident at the Wawa this weekend.

Police said they were called to the Wawa at Route 9 and Bayshore on Sept. 29th for a report of a shoplifter in the store. The male juvenile fled the store prior to police arrival with six packs of cigarettes, which he allegedly had obtained by reaching over the counter, police said. Officers conducted a search of the area but were unable to locate him.

At approximately midnight, Patrolman Brian Weber, who was off-duty and on his way home, observed the youth, whom he identified from security footage at the store, walking south on Barnegat Boulevard near the Atlantic Heights development. Weber then contacted Sgt. Wayne Eslinger.

Sgt. Eslinger approached the juvenile, and observed him discard an object by throwing it toward the woods. Sgt. Eslinger placed the juvenile under arrest for the earlier shoplifting incident and discovered that the object the juvenile had discarded was a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun.

The juvenile was also found in possession of several rounds of ammunition, which he had in his pants pocket.

The juvenile was charged with shoplifting and unlawful possession of a handgun. He was transported to the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center.