Lacey Man Drove Drunk In Brick, Stole Car, Brick Police Say

by Karen Wall

BRICK, NJ — A Lacey Township man found stumbling in the street trying to restart a stalled SUV has been charged with burglary and driving while intoxicated, Brick police said, after he allegedly stole the car from a nearby auto repair shop.

Camilo Galindo-Sanmartin, 27, from the Forked River section of Lacey, was charged early Sunday morning following the incident on Princeton Avenue, Brick Sgt. Neal Pedersen said Tuesday.

Brick Police Officer Joseph Riccio was on patrol about 3 a.m. Sunday on Princeton Avenue when he saw a 2005 silver Subaru Forester stopped in the travel lane, Pedersen said.

As Riccio approached, the Subaru moved to the shoulder of the road near Robins Street, and appeared to be disabled, he said. The driver, identified as Galindo-Sanmartin, then got out of the Subaru and staggered to the front of it, Pedersen said.

Riccio and Officer Mark Storch, who arrived to assist, came over to help and saw that it appeared the vehicle was in the process of being repaired by an auto body shop, Pedersen said. They saw a front grill assembly on the back seat, tape on hood that appeared to be in place for painting it, and the key ring had a work order tag attached, he said.

Galindo-Sanmartin told the officers the Subaru belonged to a friend, but couldn't remember the friend's name when they asked, Pedersen said.

Realizing that the vehicle might be from a body shop, Storch went to Andrews Auto Body, less than a quarter of a mile away, and found the garage door was open and a window was smashed in the paint booth, Pedersen said.

The garage also had an empty spot, which had fresh tire tracks in the sanding dust on the floor. A representative from Andrews Auto Body responded and confirmed the Subaru was in fact removed from his shop during the night, Pedersen said.

Riccio also determined that Galindo-Sanmartin was intoxicated and arrested him, Pedersen said. Police then confirmed that Galindo-Sanmartin was responsible for the burglary and theft of the vehicle from Andrews Auto Body, he said.

Galindo-Sanmartin was charged with burglary, theft, criminal mischief, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving and obstruction of traffic, Pedersen said. He was processed and released on a summons under bail reform rules.

The officers returned the Subaru to Andrews Auto Body, Pedersen said, and its owner was notified of the theft and that the Subaru had been returned to Andrews, he said

Detective Daniel Waleski responded to assist with the investigation along with Detective Edward Waldhelm who processed the scene and collected evidence.

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