Point Pleasant Man Stole Plane Then Crashed It, NJ State Police Say

CORBIN CITY, NJ — A Point Pleasant man who told authorities he crashed a plane was arrested Wednesday on multiple charges, including theft of the plane he crashed, New Jersey State Police said.

Robert Wagner, 42, is being held in the Atlantic County jail on charges including burglary, theft and obstruction, Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron said.

State troopers responded to a call at about 8:55 a.m. in Corbin City of a suspicious man walking out of the woods, Lebron said. Corbin City is a town of about 500 residents west of Somers Point, and state police handle emergency calls in the town.

The man was walking along Route 50 near Main Street when troopers found him, and he told them he had crashed his plane in a grass field nearby. The man refused to identify himself, and he was arrested and charged with obstruction, Lebron said.

As state police investigated, they learned the man, Wagner, had been arrested by the Pemberton Police Department recently and was wanted in connection with the theft of a Quad City Ultralight Challenger 2 plane from Pemberton Airport on Tuesday, Lebron said.

The plane registration provided by Pemberton police matched the registration of the plane crashed near Main Street in Corbin City, Lebron said.

As the investigation continued, authorities linked Wagner to two burglaries in Corbin City, he said. When detectives questioned him, Wagner confessed to the burglaries and stolen aircraft, Lebron said.

He has been charged with criminal attempt, criminal mischief, burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property, obstruction, and hindering.

The investigation is continuing, Lebron said.