Stafford Township, NJ – On March 18, 2026, patrol officers were involved in an eluding motor vehicle incident stemming from a motor vehicle stop that occurred in the area of Route 9 in Manahawkin. Patrol officers initially attempted to stop the motor vehicle; however, the pursuit was terminated shortly after. The incident was subsequently referred to the Stafford Township Police Detective Bureau for further investigation who conducted a follow-up investigation leading to the identification of the suspect as James Reilly (65 years old of Breakers Drive in Manahawkin), who was determined to be the operator of the motor vehicle involved in the incident.
As a result of the investigation, Reilly was charged with one count of 2nd degree Eluding in violation of N.J.S.A 2C:29-2B. On March 22, 2026, Reilly was apprehended by the Atlantic City Police Department on the strength of a warrant. He was lodged in Atlantic County Jail pending extradition to Ocean County Jail to await a court appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
As a reminder, the Stafford Township Police Department does not release arrest photos of defendants. All individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.