The following is based on information received from a law enforcement agency. The person(s) named is innocent until proven otherwise in court.
ERMA – On Sept. 9 at approximately 5:57 p.m. members of the Lower Township Police Department responded to the 600 block of Weeks Landing Road in Erma for the report of a female who alleged she was just attacked by a man possessing a gun.
Officers arrived and made contact with the victim. She stated a man with a black handgun exited her outside shower, assaulted her and then fled the area on foot.
Officers were able to ascertain a description of the assailant from the victim. Officers of the Patrol and Detective divisions immediately began to canvass the area for the subject.
Officers also made contact with other residents of the area to ensure their safety. Members from the Cape May County Sheriff’s K-9 unit responded to assist with the canvass as well.
Through the course of the investigation the alleged assailant was identified as Jacob McCandless, 29, a resident of Erma.
Police were able to determine a make, model, and registration of the vehicle McCandless commonly drives. This information was provided to the surrounding jurisdictions through an all-points bulletin (APB), BOLO Alert (Be On the Look Out).
Patrol Officer Matthew Gamble of the Lower Township Police Department located the vehicle, which was being operated by McCandless, in the area of Breakwater Road and Nummytown Road.
Gamble took McCandless into custody without further incident.
McCandless was charged on a warrant issued by Municipal Court Judge Thomas Hillegass for the following charges: unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, criminal restraint, criminal coercion, and aggravated assault.
A court-authorized search warrant was issued for the vehicle being operated by McCandless and a black handgun that matched the description given by the victim was located inside the vehicle.
This incident is being investigated by Patrolman Louis Bartleson and Detective Michael Iames.
Anyone with information pertaining to this investigation should contact Lower Township Police at (609) 886-2711.
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