Police have identified and charged an 18-year-old Freehold Township man in connection with the violent assault of a young mother who was attacked while walking with her 2-year-old child in mid-November.
Detective Ryan Jackson, the lead investigator on the case, identified the suspect as Jaden Thompson, who now faces charges stemming from the November 17 assault on Pinewood Road. Thompson was charged on a Complaint-Summons with Endangering the Welfare of a Child (3rd degree) and Simple Assault, according to Howell Township Police.
Thompson is currently lodged at the Ocean County Jail on attempted murder charges after allegedly stabbing a person in Jackson on Thanksgiving night.
The update follows an intensive two-week investigation that began after the shocking assault rattled the quiet Howell neighborhood. The victim, a young mother, had been pushing her toddler in a stroller around 4:55 p.m. when a man came up from behind, placed her in a chokehold, and slammed her to the ground. Her screams ultimately caused the attacker to flee on foot.
In the immediate aftermath, police released surveillance imagery showing a man matching the suspect’s description—thin, approximately 5’8”, wearing a gray or tan hood, dark jacket with striped sleeves, dark pants, and white sneakers. Witnesses and residents also reported seeing an individual lingering around Pinewood Road, Cecilia Court, Violet Circle, and Poppy Lane in the hours leading up to the attack.
Authorities say community involvement played a critical role in helping move the investigation forward.
“Several tips were provided by our community and thoroughly reviewed,” the department said in its statement. “We are appreciative of our residents and their concerns for the safety of our Township.”
Police emphasized that although charges have been filed, Thompson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law, with all constitutional protections afforded to him.