MANCHESTER – During a recent Township Council meeting Police Chief Antonio Ellis provided an overview on traffic safety issues within the community.
“Route 571 and Route 70 is a major intersection in town and we’ve identified it over several years as being a high use location. Officers have been conducting a study and by looking at the types of crashes specifically – and the causation of those crashes – we’ve determined it to be more of at the end of those light circles, left turns or when traffic is trying to go through the intersection when someone is trying to turn left at the last minute.”
Chief Ellis added, “with council’s support we put in a report to the county and also to the state because it is a state road. We have put in a request to improve the timing at that intersection.” Other changes will be recommended to prevent the traffic from backing up too much.
He said a request went into install a traffic camera at that intersection “because when you have a crash occur it is sometimes difficult to see who has the right of way at the time of the incident. Having a camera there, you can actually look at that camera in real time. We currently have three cameras in town, one at Colonial and Route 37, Northampton and Route 37 and 539 and Route 70. We can review that data and relay that to the state after a crash occurs and figure out what happened when a crash does occur.”
Homicide Investigation
Chief Ellis also spoke to the public about a recent homicide investigation. He said with the assistance of other law enforcement agencies “we were able to track him (the suspect) down and we finally secured him in Toms River and a standoff occurred. The suspect died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after several hours’ standoff. The female partner he had with him is being charged by the (Ocean County) Prosecutor’s Office for hindering apprehension and housing a fugitive.”
“We’re not just a sleepy town. Crime does happen,” he explained.
He also noted a recent drowning at the Heritage Minerals property on Whites Bog Road. “We are working with the property owners to fortify that location and we’ve been putting officers out there to address some of those issues because people are still coming in, in droves.”
Chief Ellis noted that around Suncrest Village, “people are coming out every weekend and partying and blasting out music and it is affecting the community. We are trying to get the property owner accountable for this nuisance. It is summer time and we are very busy.”
New Officers
The chief also welcomed three patrolmen. Carlos Belardo, Michael Contreras, and Ryan Thompson were recently sworn in by Township Clerk Teri Giercyk in front of family, friends and police and township personnel.
“When welcoming new patrolmen to the ranks of the Manchester Township Police Department, our residents can rest assured that the upcoming generation of officers have what it takes to serve our Township,” Ellis added. “These individuals have demonstrated their commitment to service, and our community should be proud of their dedication in successfully navigating our department’s intensive hiring process.”
Patrolman Belardo was born and raised in Manhattan, and was an NYPD Cadet Explorer in high school, according to official reports. In 2022, Belardo joined the United States Army Reserves, received certification as a Combat Medic and remains active in the Army Reserves.
Contreras was born in Bogota, Colombia, and raised in Galloway. The patrolman most recently served as a full-time police officer with the Egg Harbor Township Police Department, where he was a Field Training Officer, an Adopt-a-Cop officer, Alco-test and radar certified, Drug Impaired Driving (DID) certified, and License Plate Reader certified.
During his tenure in Egg Harbor Township, he received the Life-Saving award, Firearms award and Physical Fitness award.
Patrolman Thompson was a Special Law Enforcement Officer II (SLEO II) with the Seaside Park Police Department, and later with the Absecon Police Department.
During this time, Ellis said that Thompson learned invaluable knowledge of police work and strong community skills that helped him become a full-time officer with Absecon in January of 2023 before transferring to the Brielle Police Department in March of 2024.
“I’m confident that these three patrolmen will serve Manchester Township with honor and integrity. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mayor Robert Arace, members of the Township Council, and Township administration for their continued support of our police department and our mission to serve our residents to the highest possible level,” the chief added.
