LAKEWOOD – A Manchester man who was arrested for committing a string of crimes and assaults against members of the Orthodox Jewish community has been indicted on a total of 32 counts for terrorism and more, officials announced.
Dion Marsh, 27, of Manchester, was indicted on charges of Terrorism, two counts of Carjacking, seven counts of Bias Intimidation, an additional seven counts of Bias Intimidation, four counts of Attempted Murder, Attempted Kidnapping, five counts of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful purpose and five counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.
These charges all stem from a series of events that occurred in Lakewood and Jackson on April 8.
Around 1:10 p.m. near Arlington Avenue and Lincoln Street in Lakewood, Marsh approached a driver in a 2011 Toyota Camry and attempted to enter it. The victim locked the doors as he watched Marsh approach the car.
As Marsh tried to open the door, the victim accelerated. Marsh reached through the open window and attempted to hold on while the victim continued to drive. They traveled about one city block before Marsh let go, police said.
At 5:20 p.m., a male pedestrian was crossing Kimball Road at Central Avenue in Lakewood when a dark colored sedan hit him from the right side, causing minor bodily injury. The car then quickly fled the scene, police said.
A 911 call was placed around 5:25 p.m. by a man reporting that his minor son had been approached by a black Honda Accord occupied by a skinny black male in the area of Carlton Avenue and Central Avenue in Lakewood. The caller told police that the suspect attempted to physically grab the minor and pull him into the car, but was unsuccessful.
Around 6:00 p.m., Marsh was in Lakewood driving a different car when he intentionally hit another Orthodox Jewish man with the car, attempting to kill the victim and causing him to suffer several broken bones, officials said.
About an hour later, Marsh was driving the car he had stolen earlier and attempted to kill another Orthodox Jewish man by deliberately hitting him with the car. Marsh then got out of the car and stabbed the man in the chest with a knife, causing the victim to suffer a stab wound and other injuries, officials said.
At 8:20 p.m., Marsh was still driving the stolen car when he hit another Orthodox Jewish man who was walking in nearby Jackson Township, attempting to kill the man and causing him to suffer several broken bones and internal injuries, officials said.
Investigation revealed that Marsh was responsible for all of these criminal acts and on April 8, detectives arrested Marsh at his home in Manchester without incident.
On April 8, detectives interviewed Michelle Strachan, 28, of Jackson, and determined that Strachan provided conflicting information. He was subsequently charged Hindering Apprehension.
“A thorough review of the totality of the circumstances surrounding this defendant’s intent, conduct and behavior lead us to the charge of Terrorism. We are prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, that Marsh intended to terrorize the Jewish community in Lakewood and Jackson Township(s) on April 8,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer stated. “This indictment is just the next step in bringing this young man to justice.”
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Chief Trial Attorney Michael Weatherstone, who presented the case to the Grand Jury on behalf of the State, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department, Lakewood Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Jackson Township Police Department, Manchester Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, New Jersey State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, and New Jersey Department of Homeland Security and Preparedness for their collective efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Marsh’s apprehension and indictment.
The charges referenced are merely accusations and the public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
