BERKELEY TOWNSHIP-On September 23rd 2019 during the morning hours, a robbery occurred at Robert J. Miller Airpark in Berkeley Township. In this attack, an 87-year-old female was assaulted on the head with a golf club as she was using the recreational area on the fairgrounds. The assailant took personal items from her and fled the area.
The victim was able to get to her car and leave the fairgrounds and sought medical attention. The victim sustained moderate head injuries consistent with the described attack.
The brave victim was able to provide police with a detailed description of her assailant, his vehicle and also was able to complete (with a State Police sketch artist) a composite of her attacker.
As a result of this incident, an intense follow up investigation was conducted by Berkeley Township Detectives. The randomness of this violent attack and the remote location where it occurred created unique obstacles in which to solve this case and identify and arrest the perpetrator. Berkeley Detectives followed up on hundreds of leads, which included suspect interviews, data research, witness interviews, area canvasses, surveillance operations, and tip line calls.
The evidence gathered in this case lead to the identification of a male who fit the description and who use to frequent Miller Airpark where he would bring his small dog.
Detectives were able to at first identify a name of the subject’s dog as well a detailed vehicle description. These clues were used to assist in identifying the suspect. Additional interviews with several witnesses familiar with the subject eventually lead to him being positively identified as David Steen 51 of Marlton NJ. It is believed and supported through evidence gathered thus far, that Steen is the man who attacked the elderly victim with a golf club during a robbery.
As a result, there is now an active warrant for his arrest, as attempts to locate him have been unsuccessful. The charges are as followed.
Robbery in the First Degree, Aggravated Assault in the 3rd Degree, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in the 3rd degree and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon of the 4th degree.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Steen is asked to contact your local law enforcement agency and not to confront him. Anonymous Tips can be made by calling 732-341-1132 x611 or tips@btpdnj.org
The Berkeley Township Police recognizes the extraordinary effort put forth by investigators in this case. This includes lead case Detective Joseph Santoro, Detective Lieutenant Peter La Rocca, Detective Michael Riccardelli, Detective William Somers, Detective Michael O’Connor, Detective Michael Tier and Detective Shawn Bowens. This case was greatly assisted by the Berkeley Patrol Division as well as Berkeley Communications Officers, The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department K-9, Manchester Township Detectives, New Jersey State Police and the Animal Control Officers from all over Ocean County.
We are especially appreciative of all the concerned citizens who called the police and provided information. This case could not have been solved without this cooperation which gave us vital information.
David Steen if you are reading this PLEASE TURN YOURSELF IN IMMEDIATELY TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.