ARREST MADE IN ROUTE 37 HIT & RUN
Toms River, NJ – Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little announce that on March 18, 2015, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office and Toms River Police Department completed a joint investigation that culminated in the arrest of Mark Rothlein, 51, of Vansant Avenue in Island Heights for the March 6, 2015 hit and run that claimed the life of Jeffrey Michel of Colts Neck.
Earlier this week, the partnering agencies released a description of a vehicle that was suspected to be involved in the accident, along with a small piece of the vehicle located at the scene and determined to be from a Blue Jeep Wrangler manufactured between 2013 and 2015. On March 18, 2015 at 1:20 pm, that information would lead to the arrest of Rothlein at his Island Heights home by Ocean County Prosecutors Detective Mike Proto and Toms River Traffic Safety Officer Ken Thomas.
Rothlein is charged with a second degree Criminal Offense of 2C:11-5.1, Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Crash Resulting in Death. He is currently being held on $100,000 bail. The Blue 2013 two door Jeep Wrangler that is registered to his wife, has been impounded for processing by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI.
ORIGINAL RELEASE:
On March 6, 2015 at 8:20 pm a motorist was traveling West on Route 37 near Fischer Boulevard. He observed a person lying on the side of the road just West Of Fischer Boulevard. Toms River Police Officers arrived they located a 27 year old Colts Neck Man who was unresponsive. Jeffrey Michel, of Cedar Drive, was pronounced dead at the scene. It appears that he was struck by a vehicle traveling west that may have been blue in color. Toms River Traffic Safety Officer Ken Thomas is conducting the investigation along with Ocean County Prosecutors Office Detectives and Mike Proto and David Margentino. The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office CSI Unit was also on hand to process the crime scene. Anyone with information should contact Officer Ken Thomas at 732-349-0150 extension 1314 or Detective Mike Proto at 732-929-2027.
The media and the public are reminded that criminal charges are accusations only. Every criminal defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.