Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on October 24, 2023, Ryan McDonald, 33, of Brick Township, was charged with three counts of Bias Intimidation, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and two counts of Criminal Mischief, in connection with incidents that occurred in Brick Township on October 24, 2023.
On October 24, 2023, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Officers from the Brick Township Police Department were summoned to the 7-11 convenience store located on Mantoloking Road for a report of criminal mischief. An investigation by responding Officers determined that a male suspect became agitated with other customers in the store. The suspect subsequently left the store, retrieved a knife from his motor vehicle, and proceeded to stab the tire of a customer’s vehicle. The suspect then approached the vehicle of a second customer, at which point he utilized the knife to puncture two tires on that vehicle – all the while employing racial slurs. An older female and child were located in the vehicle at the time. The suspect thereafter fled the scene. Further investigation revealed that McDonald was, indeed, the individual responsible for these criminal acts.
A short time later, Brick Township Police Officers located McDonald in the surrounding area, and he was taken into custody without incident. McDonald was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the Brick Township Police Department and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Bias Crime Unit for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations 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.
R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).