BERKELEY – A Manchester man was arrested in connection with a bank robbery in Berkeley.
Michael Walters, 52, was charged with second-degree robbery by the Berkeley Township Police Department. He was also charged with theft and writing bad checks by the Manchester Township Police Department.
He was taken to Ocean County Jail.
“On March 20, 2019, coaches and team representatives for a local Boys 10U Travel Baseball Team reported to the Manchester Police that they suspected that the team manager/treasurer, Michael Walters, was misappropriating the monies that the players had raised from fundraising activities. This money was to be used to purchase equipment, pay entry fees for tournaments, and fund other team related expenses. The information about the theft came to their attention after learning that Walters was unable to make payment to a winner of one of the team’s fundraisers. The initial report was taken by Patrolman Marc Micciulla and both he and Detective Richard Jupinka conducted the follow-up investigation.,” Captain Todd Malland of Manchester Police said. “After doing so, Michael Walters was charged with one count of theft by deception in excess of $6,500.00 and one count of issuing a bad check in excess of $500.00.”
A masked man wearing dark clothing handed a bank teller at Santander Bank on Jamaica Boulevard in Berkeley a note demanding money March 21. He was given an undisclosed amount of cash and then fled on foot. No vehicle was identified at that moment, and police notified the FBI Red Bank office of the robbery.
Berkeley Police secured the perimeter and found several nearby homes with doorbell cameras and surveillance equipment. Authorities were able to identify a suspect vehicle from that footage.
In the meantime, Manchester Township Police detectives notified Berkeley Township Police Detectives that someone had come in to the police department with a large amount of cash, to pay back money owed for a travel baseball program. According to police, Walters was under investigation for theft from that baseball association.
“This subject advised Manchester Detectives that he had reimbursed the money owed and had made good on the debt,” Berkeley Township Police Chief Karin DiMichele said.
The surveillance footage showing the suspected vehicle matched a vehicle at the Manchester Township Police Department. The vehicle was impounded pending a search warrant. The warrant was granted and police found items used in the robbery. The money taken stolen from the bank was also recovered.
“This case was quickly resolved due to the fast action of Berkeley Detectives and their Manchester counterparts who work hand in hand on cases which impact neighboring jurisdictions. Further, the presence of doorbell cameras and other surveillance equipment along with the cooperation of the residents was crucial in providing key evidence in this case which detectives would not have had as quick or at all without this technology,” DiMichele said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Manchester Police Detective Richard Jupinka at 732-657-2009 ext. 4206. Anonymous tips can be left here.
Lead investigator for Berkeley is Detective Michael Tier assisted by Detective Lieutenant Peter La Rocca, Detective Joseph Santoro, Detective Michael Riccardelli, Detective William Somers, Detective Michael O’Connor Detective Shawn Bowens and first responding officers Nicholas Bondulich and Joshua Foca. Berkeley Patrol response was led by Lieutenant Ryan Roth, Lieutenant Philip Smith, Lieutenant Michael Roth and Lieutenant Brian Woermer. Manchester Detective Richard Jupinka and Officer Marc Miciulla lead the investigation for Manchester.
The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI and K-9 assisted in scene processing and the Toms River Police Department all assisted.
