Two Arrested After Stealing Car, Eluding Police

Two individuals from Laurence Harbor were arrested following an extensive search by Manchester Township Police Officers on Thursday, February 16, 2017, after the stolen vehicle they were traveling in crashed into a wooded area.

At approximately 11am, during patrol operations on Manchester Boulevard, Ptl. Michael Terranova spotted a GMC Envoy reported stolen out of Old Bridge Township. When Ptl. Terranova attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver refused and sped away at a high rate of speed. In the interest of public safety and having a full description of the vehicle, Ptl. Terranova terminated the pursuit.

A short time later, officers passed through the Manchester Boulevard/Wranglebrook intersection and noticed vehicles pulled over on the side of the road, with occupants looking in the woods. Patrol officers stopped and discovered that the stolen GMC Envoy had lost control, left the roadway, and traveled approximately 100 feet into a wooded area before coming to a stop. Unable to open the damaged vehicle doors, the occupants climbed through windows and fled from the scene on foot.

An extensive search of the area began, as the members of the Manchester Township Police Investigations Bureau, Patrol Bureau, and Narcotics Enforcement Team were called to the scene, as was K-9 Officer Marc Micciulla and his partner, Storm, for tracking purposes. Also responding was the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit for aerial support, and K-9 Officer Christine Casullo from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department. As a precaution, the nearby As We Grow Childcare was notified and placed on temporary lockdown, and a Nixle emergency message alerted the public to stay clear of the area.

Approximately 45 minutes after the search began, the suspects, George Noonan, 31, of Route 35 in Laurence Harbor, and Kristina Noonan-Bath, 32, of Norwood Avenue in Laurence Harbor, were found walking along Wranglebrook Road by Ptl. Christian Nazario, who placed them under arrest.

George Noonan was charged with possession of hypodermic needles, possession of drug paraphernalia, receiving stolen property, eluding, and hindering apprehension. Officers also found that he had multiple no bail warrants from numerous jurisdictions.

Kristina Noonan-Bath was arrested on warrants totaling $5,500 out of multiple jurisdictions. Both suspects were sent to Ocean County Jail pending court in default of bail. The Manchester Township Police Traffic Safety Officer Douglas Higgins is investigating the crash.