Berkeley Police Arrest Five For Home Invasion, Assault In Manitou Park

Five persons - including two from Berkeley Township - are facing aggravated assault and burglary charges after they forced their way into a Manitou Park home, Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele said.

PatrolmenMichael O’Connor, Jason Malley, Warren Black, John Sperber and Sgt. Philip Smith responded to a Second Avenue home in the Manitou Park section of the township at 7:21 p.m. on May 2 on a home invasion report, the chief said.

They spoke with a female victim who told them that five people she knows forced their way into the home and punched and kicked her, DiMichele said.

The suspects had fled prior before police arrived, but officers were able to identify them. The victim was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment of moderate injuries, the chief said.

They later arrested Rosalie Hardy, 27, Second Avenue, Manitou Park, Clara Hardy, 33, Cypress Avenue, Brick, Shanice Hardy, 20, Cypress Avenue, Brick, Oscar Hardy, 25, Carteret Avenue, Seaside Heights, and Calvin Hardy, 34, Fourth Avenue, Manitou Park. All five were charged with aggravated assault and burglary, DiMichele said.

Municipal Court Judge James J. Gluck set each of their bails at $25,000 cash, with no ten percent option.

Detective Joseph Santoro is continuing the investigation.  Officers from the South Toms River Police Department, members of the South Toms River EMS and MONOC paramedics assisted.