Man, Teen Arrested Amid Early Morning Burglary Spree In Howell, Police Say

HOWELL, NJ — A 50-round drum magazine and a ghost gun were seized and a Trenton man after a chase through several backyards in a Howell neighborhood in connection with a series of vehicle burglaries early Friday, Howell police said.

Antonio C. Thompson II, 22, of Trenton, was being held at the Monmouth County jail in connection with the burglaries, police said. A 15-year-old boy from Trenton who police say also was involved was arrested as well, police said.

Patrolmen Dan Davison and Ryan Goodspeed were called to the area of Lorelei and Virginia drives for a report of someone burglarizing a vehicle about 3 a.m. Friday, police said.

Davison arrived first and found Thompson breaking into a vehicle, and Thompson saw Davison and took off running, through backyards and over several fences, police said. Goodspeed joined in and they were able to catch Thompson, police said.

Lt. Christian Antunez, Sgt. Ed Homiek, and patrol officers Michael Maccia, Chandler Reed, Maurice Jackson and Jerry Perez arrived and learned several vehicles had been broken into, and saw on security footage that a second person was involved.

While a K-9 unit was searching for the second suspect, Maccia found the vehicle belonging to Thompson and saw a handgun with a 50-round drum magazine lying on the floor of the vehicle and retrieved it, police said.

The handgun was a "ghost gun", Howell police said.

The vehicle was secured and towed from the scene and authorities were seeking a search warrant to search it for items taken during the burglaries, police said.

Perez, meanwhile, found the second suspect, the 15-year-old boy, who was confirmed as the second suspect through surveillance videos, police said.

Thompson has been charged with several counts of burglary, weapons offenses, obstruction and resisting arrest, and the teen has been charged with several counts of burglary and weapons offenses and was being held at the Middlesex County Youth Detention Facility, police said.