K-9 Unit Assists in Arrest at Howell Best Buy

A trio of men who attempted to use a fraudulent credit card at a Best Buy in Manalapan were recently arrested by the Howell Township Police Department after trying a similar plan at the Best Buy on Route 9.

Sgt. Joseph Markulic and Ptl. Nick Bondarew were sent to the store on Wednesday at a little after 8 p.m. and encountered two of the suspects, identified as 36-year-old Antoine Melville from the Bronx and 35-year-old Manhattan resident James Petty in the parking lot. Detective Sgt. Eileen Dodd said a third suspect, 28-year-old Theodore Gaddy, also of Manhattan was in the store at the time attempting to purchase items.

Dodd said Gaddy was attempting to buy an Apple MacBook valued at $1804.99 when the credit card came back as fraudulent. At that time he told the cashier he would be right back and exited the store. Gaddy attempted to run to his car when he saw Markulic in the parking lot where Bondarew was waiting for him.

Gaddy then attempted to flee the scene before he was taken into custody by Bondarew with the help of his K-9 partner Jago. At the time of his arrest he was found to be in possession of a fraudulent New York driver’s license. He was charged with resisting arrest by flight, credit card fraud, credit card theft and using or exhibiting a false government document.

Dodd said Melville was also found in possession of a fraudulent New York Driver’s License and a fraudulent Bank of America Visa card under a fake name. He was charged with credit card fraud and possession of a false government document. He was also arrested on an outstanding warrant out of Fort Lee in the amount of $113. Petty was charged with credit card fraud and he was also found to have an arrest warrant out of Paramus in the amount of $1000.

Gaddy’s bail was set at $17,500, Melville’s was set at $12,500 and Petty’s was set at $5000. Dodd said all three were taken to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in lieu of bail.