Police: Lanoka Harbor Man Eludes Officers After Refusing to Stop Car

Police claim a Lanoka Harbor man fled by car after he was found driving carelessly throughout the Walmart parking lot.

Gregory Guarino, 54, was eventually arrested on Wednesday, May 30 after Police Officer John Simonson responded to a non-emergent police matter at Walmart.

As Police Officer John Simonson approached the store’s entrance at approximately 11:42 a.m. he observed a Ford Windstar mini-van, driven by Guarino, carelessly maneuvering throughout the parking lot, Lt. James Veltri said.

Simonson approached the vehicle, which eventually stopped to wait for an occupied parking stall, and asked Guarino for a driver’s license. Guarino did not provide the officer with his license and was instructed to park in a nearby parking spot, Veltri said.

Guarino then disregarded Simonson’s instructions and proceeded to exit the Walmart parking lot driving at a high rate of speed. The mini-van nearly collided with traffic while entering onto Haines Street, Veltri said.

Simons and other officers responded to Guarino’s residence on Lake Barnegat Drive North. Guarino was exiting his van and running into the home ignoring officers’ orders to stop, Veltri said.

After a short delay, Guarino came out of the house and resisted officers while being placed under arrest, Veltri said.

Guarino’s van was found to be unregistered and uninsured and was therefore towed and impounded from the residence.

Guarino had an active arrest warrant for $500 from Little Egg Harbor Township. He was charged with one count of eluding, two counts of resisting arrest and one count of obstruction. He also received tickets for careless driving, unregistered vehicle, no insurance, reckless driving and no seatbelt.

Guarino was sent to Ocean County Jail in default of his bail set at $25,000.