Crime & Safety
Brick Man Arrested in Toms River With Loaded AK-47 Rifle
911 caller told police that 22-year-old man was on his way to locate someone he had threatened
A Brick man is facing weapons charges after Toms River police found two firearms, including an AK-47 rifle, in his van during a traffic stop on Sunday.
Toms River police spotted Mark Austin, 22, driving southbound on Fischer Boulevard around 11L30 p.m. after receiving a 911 call reporting that Austin would be traveling in a white Ford van with weapons inside, Capt. Steven R. Henry said.
The caller, according to Henry, also told police that Austin had made threats to a third party and was trying to locate that person.
Officers, Graham Borg, Vincent Pedalino and Victor Tamaro initiated a motor vehicle stop in the area of Windsor Avenue, Henry said, but Austin attempted to flee on foot as he was being ordered out of the vehicle.
Officers ultimately located Austin in a lagoon near Beachview Drive, at which time they directed him out of the water and arrested him without further incident, Henry said.
Inside the van, police found a loaded AK-47 rifle as well as a shot gun, said Henry.
Following an investigation by Detective John Turner, Austin was arrested on charges of obstructing justice by fleeing a motor vehicle stop, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a large capacity magazine.
Austin was lodged in the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. His photo was not available Monday.
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