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On Wednesday, March 8, Gerson Aguilar-Lara, 24, of Lakewood, was charged with two counts of kidnapping, child endangerment and robbery, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer alongside Jackson Township Police Chief Matthew Kunz.
On Tuesday, March 7, at approximately 10:30 p.m., the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a female victim seeking help; the call was subsequently disconnected. Upon callback, the victim was able to provide her name and basic information before the connection was again terminated. The Jackson Township Police Department was able to ascertain the address of the victim as a residence on North Chapel Road in Jackson.
Through investigation, responding officers determined that the victim and her infant child had been taken from the residence against their will. Further investigation revealed that Aguilar-Lara, who was in a dating relationship with the victim and father of the infant, had forced the victim and her child into a Chevrolet Equinox and then fled the area.
On March 8, at approximately 3:15 a.m., the Toms River Police Department observed Aguilar- Lara’s vehicle as it turned into a parking lot on Route 37 in Toms River. As the vehicle came to a stop, Aguilar-Lara fled on foot; he was taken into custody by officers of the Toms River Township Police Department shortly thereafter.
Neither the victim nor her infant child was harmed.
Aguilar-Lara was taken to Jackson Township Police Headquarters, where he was processed and he was being held in Ocean County Jail.
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