Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on October 7, 2024, David Lemmon, 67, of Bayville, pled guilty to Eluding before the Honorable Kenneth T. Palmer, J.S.C., in connection with an incident that occurred November 8, 2023, in Manchester Township. At the time of his sentencing on January 10, 2025, the State will be seeking a term of five years New Jersey State Prison.
On November 8, 2023, as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force observed Lemmon operating a motor vehicle with John McDaniel, 47, of Toms River, as a passenger. Detectives surveilled Lemmon as he drove to the Trenton area before returning to Ocean County. A Manchester Township marked police unit attempted to effectuate a motor vehicle stop on Lemmon’s vehicle in the area of Ridgeway Road. As Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, Lemmon drove away in a reckless manner – traveling at a high rate of speed and cutting in front of other motorists. Officers terminated the pursuit due to safety concerns.
A short time later, McDaniel was observed walking on Railroad Avenue in Lakehurst by Officers from the Lakehurst Police Department, at which time he was taken into custody without incident. McDaniel was charged with Possession of Less than One Half Ounce of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Possess Less than One Half Ounce of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Heroin, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform. The charges against McDaniel remain pending at this time.
Lemmon was thereafter located at a residence in Whiting and taken into custody by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force without incident. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Kaitlyn Burke who is handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Manchester Township Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team, Manchester Township Police Department Patrol Division, Borough of Lakehurst Police Department Patrol Division, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, and Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, for their collaborative assistance in connection with this investigation resulting in Lemmon’s guilty plea, and soon his state prison sentence.