Shoplifting Suspect Assaults Lacey Marine Employee, Flees Store, Police Chief Says

Lacey police recently charged a Forked River man with robbery and using force during a theft after he shoplifted merchandise at Lacey Marine, stuffed the items in his shorts and assaulted an employee before he fled the scene, Police Chief Michael C. DiBella said.

Officers Darrell Nick and Brian Holt responded to Lacey Marine on Route 9 South in Forked River at 11:35 a.m. on Aug. 20 on a shoplifting report.

The store employee saw Frank O. Pulido, Jr., 34, Wynnewood Road, put $139.98 of store items in his shorts. When the employee confronted Pulido, Pulido assaulted him. Pulido then fled the scene in a pickup truck, DiBella said.

Ricciardella located the pickup truck on Davenport's Landing in Forked River a short time later and stopped Pulido. He was taken to police headquarters, where he was also charged with driving with a suspended license, reckless driving, failure to stop, failure to signal and failure to change the address on his driver's license, the chief said.

Pulido was taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River to await a bail hearing, the chief said.

Photo: Patch file photo