Stafford Township, NJ – On March 19, 2026, a male subject arrived at the Stafford Township Municipal Complex operating a U-Haul truck and parked in the public lot. The individual, identified as Dominic Joa (28 years old of Washington Street in Toms River), then went inside to handle personal affairs with the Stafford Township Police Department. Moments after he departed the area, police received information that the vehicle he was operating had been reported stolen on the same day by the Toms River Township Police Department.

Patrol officers quickly located the stolen vehicle traveling on Route 72 westbound.  A felony motor vehicle stop was conducted in the vicinity of Wendy’s which resulted in the apprehension of Joa along with a second individual, Eliangel Perez (24 years old of Hooper Avenue in Toms River), who was also associated with the incident.

Both individuals were transported to police headquarters, where the Stafford Township Police Department Detective Bureau and the Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau conducted a follow-up investigation. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the suspects possessed the U-Haul vehicle from a rental center in Toms River, New Jersey and attempted to enter multiple U-Haul facilities throughout southern New Jersey with criminal intent. In addition, the suspects possessed stolen credit cards and identification cards. As a result of the investigation, Joa was charged with one count of 3^rd degree receiving a stolen motor vehicle in violation of N.J.S.A 2C:20-10.2A and one count of 4^th degree credit card theft in violation of N.J.S.A 2C:21-6C(1).  Perez was charged with one count of  3^rd degree receiving a stolen motor vehicle in violation of N.J.S.A 2C:20-10.2A.  Both subjects were lodged in Ocean County Jail to appear in Ocean County Superior Court. Detectives Nicholas Racanelli and Zac Halliday were the investigating officers. 

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.