One week after the
Ocean County sheriff suggested painting a blue line in Toms River in support of
police, someone did it – but illegally. Now, that person is in jail.
When Sheriff Michael
Mastronardi suggested adding a blue line to show
support for law enforcement, he meant do it through the proper channels
legally.
Earlier this week,
a man known to police, David Giordano, 43, painted a four-inch wide blue line between the
double yellow lines on Hooper Avenue. He was issued a summons for criminal
mischief. Toms River police surveillance
video captured the painting of the line Tuesday morning.
Back on March 22,
police say Giordano entered Freedom Towing & Recovery and took his
impounded bucket truck and drove it through a locked gate and parked it at Town
Hall in Mayor Mo Hill's spot. It had been impounded for 313 days due to
unpaid invoices owed for the impound and storage of the vehicle. Giordiano was
charged with theft of movable property,
theft of services, burglary, and criminal mischief.
He is currently lodged in Ocean
County Jail.
Police also say
while they appreciate the overwhelming support for law enforcement, they do not
condone defacing any property, including road lines.