MANCHESTER – A Township man has been arrested and charged for recklessly shooting a firearm in the woods early Sunday morning, police said.
Around 2:09 a.m., Ptl. Maliff was patrolling in the the area of Manchester Boulevard and Wranglebrook Road when he heard several gunshots. He later identified the car coming from the area and pulled the vehicle over.
A 9mm handgun and ammunition were found inside the car, police said. The driver, Nathaniel Chudkowski, had fired the weapon into the wooded area of Manchester Boulevard while driving in the area.
“Due to the swift response and decisive actions of our officers any public safety threat was quickly eliminated,” Manchester Police said.
Chudkowski was charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, failure for a permit to carry holder to disclose to a law enforcement officer that they are carrying a handgun or that a handgun is stored in the vehicle, and consumption of alcohol by an authorized holder of a permit to carry a handgun. He was lodged in Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Residents are reminded that they may report suspicious activity to the Manchester Police anonymously at 732-657-6111 or online via the Department’s website, manchesterpolicenj.com, by clicking the “Tip Line” link.
The criminal charges are merely an accusation, and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
