Manahawkin Man Charged in Car Theft After Evading Police in Toms River

A Manahawkin man was charged with theft this past weekend after police said he was driving a luxury car recently reported stolen from a Toms River home.

Barry Lewis, 32, of Driftwood Avenue in Manahawkin, was charged with the theft after attempting to evade police in downtown Toms River. The car, a 2002 Lexus, was reported stolen from a Division Street home earlier last week, according to Chief of Police Michael Mastronardy.

Police apprehended Lewis on Saturday at about 1 p.m. after Detective Thomas Dimichele observed a "suspicious" Lexus being driven on Main Street, the chief said. When Dimichele attempted to stop the car, the driver fled.

The car soon was found at the Toms River Apartments on Main Street — the driver fled into a wooded area but was "quickly apprehended," Mastronardy said. 

According to the Ocean County Division of Corrections, Lewis also faces a charge for resisting arrest by flight and was jailed on $25,000 bail which was posted that same day. 

Detective Roger Hull and Officer Carl Basile assisted Dimichele will the arrest, according to the chief.