TOMS RIVER – A Lumberton man remains behind bars after an alleged armed robbery and carjacking that took place on Black Friday in the township, police said.
Toms River Police Department Spokesperson Jillian Messina confirmed that officers were dispatched to the area of Route 37 and Route 166 for a robbery in progress involving a handgun a little after 4 p.m. on November 26.
When officers arrived on the scene, the male victim told them that his vehicle was stolen at gun point from the parking lot at 10 Route 37 East and he knew the suspects involved. He had agreed to give one of them a ride to Auto Zone after their vehicle broke down.
Police said that once at Auto Zone, the victim’s acquaintance exited the vehicle and walked toward the store. The passenger door opened moments later and another male entered the vehicle and brandished a handgun demanding the victim’s belongings. The victim fled the vehicle and ran to a neighboring lot where he called the police.
The suspect exited the parking lot in the victim’s vehicle, and continued westbound on Route 37 toward Manchester.
Manchester Township Police were notified and located the vehicle traveling west on Route 37 near Lakehurst.
Manchester officers stopped the vehicle in the parking lot of the Lakehurst Diner. The driver, 20-year-old Devin Copley-Clevenger was taken into custody without incident.
Police did a search of the vehicle which yielded a loaded 9mm handgun with a high-capacity magazine.
The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Unit responded to process the vehicle.
Copley-Clevenger was charged with first degree robbery, first degree carjacking, second degree unlawful possession of a weapon, second degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and fourth degree unlawful possession of a high-capacity magazine.
All charges were approved by The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
The incident remains under investigation by Detective Seaman. Anyone with information is urged to contact him at tseaman@trpolice.org.
