Toms River Man Faces Multiple Charges After Police Chase

A back and forth over the Seaside bridge eventually ended in a Toms River resident being charged with multiple offenses Monday morning.

Around 11:30 p.m. Sunday, a Bayshore neighborhood resident called to report a suspicious vehicle, and Toms River Police Officer Andrew Chencharik responded, attempting to pull over a 1998 Dodge Ram pick-up truck, police said.

“The driver refused to pull over,” said Chief Michael Mastronardy. “Officer Chencharik followed the vehicle through Gilford Park section then onto Route 37 eastbound.”

The chase went on, with the pickup leading police over the bridge, north onto Route 35 before making a left onto Third Avenue and onto Bay Boulevard before heading back over the bridge on Route 37 westbound, Mastronardy said.

The chase made a right turn onto Hooper Avenue north and then a quick right onto Cedar Grove Road, Mastronardy said. The pursuit then went from major roads to residential neighborhoods, taking three different police vehicles at times along sidestreets around Vaughn Avenue.

Police said Matthew J. Thoms, 43, of Riverbrook Court in Toms River was behind the wheel. About 20 minutes after allegedly taking off in Gilford Park, the chase came to an end at the northern end of Vaughn. Mastronardy said Thoms drove onto the front lawn of a home, nearly hitting it with his pick-up.

“The suspect then ran through a vinyl fence into the backyard where he was apprehended by Officer Vincent Pedalino and Eric Harris hiding in a bush,” said Mastronardy in an email.

Thoms was charged with eluding, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, criminal mischief and numerous motor vehicle offenses.  Mr. Thoms was remanded to Ocean County Jail on $50,000 bail, no 10 percent option.