Ocean Gate Man Jailed on Charge of Assaulting Cop

A Ocean Gate man remains in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River after authorities said he assaulted a Berkeley police officer.

John B. Gaffney, 41, was indicted last week by an Ocean County grand jury on resisting arrest and aggravated assault charges.

Authorities claim Gaffney attempted to "cause bodily injury" to a Berkeley police sergeant on Dec. 12 and then resisted attempts to bring him into custody.

Gaffney's bail is set at $50,000, no 10 percent option.

Grand juries also indicted:

• Christopher R. Schoepfer, 25, of Pine Beach after authorities said he stole equipment from  in Manchester and sold it in nearby towns.

Authorities claim Schoepfer broke into the shop at 2065 Route 37 and took more than $500 in tools and metal equipment on Sept. 22. Schoepfer then sold the materials over the next four days in Berkeley and Toms River, the indictment states.

He was charged with burglary, theft and dealing in stolen property, all in the third degree.

Schoepfer was released on his own recognizance.

• Brandon Lee, 24, of Beachwood on theft and receiving stolen property charges.

Lee is accused of stealing more than $500 worth of steel racks from Ocean County Auto Wreckers, 176 Route 9, Bayville, from Feb. 21 to 23 of last year. He also is charged with stealing a steel pipe and tank worth more than $500 from Fisher Brothers in Berkeley on March 15.

Lee was initially held on $50,000 bail but posted March 31, 2011.

• Robert Applegate, 39, of Lakewood on credit card theft charges.

Applegate stole a Platinum Mastercard from a Berkeley woman Oct. 8, authorities allege, and used it to make purchases at ShopRite in Berkeley on Nov. 1 and Walgreen's in Berkeley on Nov. 4.

He remains jailed on $15,000 bail, 10 percent option allowed.