Lower Police Search House, Seize Multiple Weapons

VILLAS — Lower Township police with the assistance of the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office executed a search warrant Nov. 25 at the home of Joseph Boyle, 65, of 313 Arizona Ave. here where detectives confiscated numerous high powered rifles and handguns, including an assault rifle with a collapsible stock pistol grip, an optic scope and a high capacity magazine.
On Sept. 8, after a lengthy litigation in Lower Township Municipal Court for violations of trash and debris and junk cars on his property, Boyle signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the township allowing Township Department of Public Works employees to enter his outside property and remove trash and debris in lieu of the township dismissing local ordinance complaints and fines that had been accumulated by Mr. Boyle over the course of last summer for local ordinance violations on his property.
On Sept. 8 and 9, township workers removed three large dump trucks of trash, junk and scrap metal from Boyle’s property.
Neighbors described Mr. Boyle as very eccentric and one neighbor reported to police that she heard Boyle yelling in his front yard that he was going to “Shoot the Mayor,” according to a police report.
After Boyle’s yard was cleaned up by the township, Police Chief Edward Donohue stated that the police department began to receive complaints from township employees advising police that Boyle was following them in his vehicle, attempting to take pictures of their work vehicles.
One public works employee stated that Boyle made a comment to himself and his brother of “Aren’t you dead yet?”
One female township employee filed two counts of harassment charges against Boyle for following her to her place of employment on two separate occasions.
Over the last few months, Boyle continued to place trash and debris in his front yard along with junk vehicles.
Lower Township Code Enforcement Officers issued Boyle additional summonses for trash and debris on his property and police officers issued Boyle additional motor vehicle summonses for an unregistered vehicle and other motor vehicle violations at his residence.
Donohue stated that police department records indicated that Mr. Boyle had legally purchased at least eight handguns over the course of the last 10 years.
Boyle is a U.S. Navy Veteran of 21 years and has stated that he is a Vietnam veteran who suffers from the effects of Agent Orange.
Lower Township Police Lt. Detective Thomas Keywood reported that Police Administration Officers, including the Chief of Police, recently met with Mr. Boyle in the chief’s office and advised Boyle to cease and desist any actions against township employees that could be considered to be alarming, threatening and harassing in nature.
Keywood stated that the Chief of Police also arranged mental health counseling sessions for Boyle at a local counseling service, however, Boyle declined the offer.
After checking with the Veterans Administration regarding Boyle’s past mental health screening history, detectives determined that Boyle had falsified a firearms application to
renew his Firearms Purchaser Identification card that he submitted in 2008 regarding a question on any past in-patient or outpatient mental health screening services.
Keywood stated that the Lower Township Police Department recently received information from a concerned citizen who informed police that Boyle may be in possession of two assault style rifles with large capacity clips and/or magazines prohibited by law in the State of New Jersey for those weapons.
On Nov. 25, Lower Township Detectives issued a warrant against Boyle for falsifying is firearms application to renew his Purchaser Identification card, this being a third-degree crime. Detectives with the assistance of the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office prepared an Affidavit and Search Warrant for Boyle’s residence to seize any illegal firearms on his property.
At approximately 5 p.m., members of the Lower Township Police Department Patrol Division, Detective Division and members of the county Prosecutor’s Office executed a search warrant at Boyle’s residence after arresting Boyle in his front yard on the complaint warrant.
Donohue, who was on scene for the execution of the search warrant, stated the living conditions inside Boyle’s home were deplorable to the point of being non-livable. Lower Township Animal Control Officer Steven Parker removed four dogs from the residence.
Donohue stated the police department contacted the local fire safety bureau and the county Department of Health regarding the conditions inside the home.
As a result of the search warrant, police officers confiscated 27 firearms from the residence, including numerous high powered rifles with scopes, handguns, both revolver and semi-automatic and shotguns, including one Colt AR15 rifle with pistol grip, optic scope and collapsible stock with a large capacity magazine which is considered a prohibited illegal assault style weapon under New Jersey law.
Additional items prohibited by law inside Boyle’s residence were a switchblade knife, blackjack and a total of seven, large capacity ammunition magazines. Each of those offenses are a fourth degree crime.
In addition, Boyle was also charged with possession of marijuana/under 50 grams. Boyle was also charged with knowingly possessing an assault firearm without being licensed or registered to possess such a firearm.
Once inside the residence, officers received judicial permission to confiscate not only the illegal firearms, but all firearms on the property. The firearms will be kept for safekeeping pending a mental health screening of Boyle.
Boyle was lodged in the Cape May County Jail on $15,000 full cash set by Lower Township Municipal Court Judge Dave DeWeese with a stipulation of bail being that Boyle must undergo a mental health screening within five days of being released from the county jail.
The investigation, which led to the execution of the search warrant, was conducted by the Lower Township Detective Division with the assistance of the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office.