For the second time in as many days, a suspect has been arrested in connection with disturbing acts of lewdness in Lakewood. Ocean County Prosecutor Brad Billhimer today announced the arrest of Michael Marto, 28, of Tuckerton, who now faces a slew of serious charges for incidents reported on November 24, December 5, December 12, and January 5—all in Lakewood.
Marto’s alleged spree of sickness began on November 24 when Lakewood police responded to a horrifying report: a 10-year-old girl, riding her Segway on Locust Street, had been targeted by a man in a vehicle who acted lewdly in front of her. Investigators swiftly pieced together a description of the suspect, but the nightmare was far from over.
Then, on December 5, a 15-year-old girl walking near Coleman Avenue and Milton Street noticed a black SUV ominously trailing her. The driver, maintaining an unnervingly close distance, stopped whenever she stopped. When the vehicle’s driver finally spoke, his proposition was explicit and vile. The frightened teenager ran to her home, and the SUV peeled away.
Just a week later, on December 12, another Lakewood teenager reported a similar harrowing experience. A black SUV crept alongside a 15-year-old girl as she walked on Warren Avenue. The driver rolled down his window and attempted to lure her inside with deeply inappropriate remarks. Like the others, she ran from the scene, terrified.
But the predator wasn’t finished. On January 5, yet another report surfaced. A 17-year-old girl, walking on Cushman Street, noticed the now-infamous black SUV following her. Twice, the driver made disturbing comments before speeding away.
As investigators intensified their efforts, a clear pattern emerged, leading authorities to Michael Marto. Detectives from the Lakewood Township Police Department, Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department, and Tuckerton Police Department coordinated his arrest on Thursday, taking him into custody without incident at his Tuckerton residence.
Now lodged in the Ocean County Jail, Marto awaits a detention hearing.
Maybe it’s a sign from hashem to be Michazek halichas mayim chayim bichol yom
This is the second article regarding lewdness in Lakewood, which is terrible and sick. However, the author is a little extreme. Both articles seem super overwritten.