Lower Township Police Kept Busy Over Holiday Weekend

LOWER TOWNSHIP – The Lower Township Police Department responded to approximately 400 calls over the July 4th Holiday Weekend from Friday through Monday.
Calls for Service included;
18 Disorderly Conduct calls
6 Domestic Violence calls
3 Domestic Violence calls with assaults
18 Emergency Medical Calls with the Lower Township Rescue Squad 21 Local Ordinance complaints
11 Motor Vehicle Accidents
60 Motor Vehicle Stops
10 Parking Offenses
6 Criminal Mischief complaints
17 Suspicious Persons or Vehicle calls
5 Thefts
8 Alarm calls
13 Animal Complaints
50 Property Checks
1 Burglary
4 Warrant Arrests
Some of the more serious incidents included; 4 DWI Arrests.
One DWI arrest occurred after an off-duty Wildwood Crest Police Officer followed a vehicle driving recklessly from Wildwood into Lower Township, where the vehicle was eventually stopped with the driver of that vehicle having a blood alcohol content over three times the legal limit.
One DWI arrest was a result of a motor vehicle accident on Hollywood Avenue in the Villas. The driver of that motor vehicle was transported to Cape Regional Medical Center where Lower Township Police Officers retrieved a blood sample from the driver and charged him with Driving While Intoxicated.
Officers responded to a Domestic Violence incident where a woman was arrested for striking her husband with a hammer. The woman was charged on a warrant with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She was also charged with obstruction of justice and resisting arrest and was subsequently released after paying 10 percent of a $15,000 bail.
The Lower Township Detective Division continued to investigate an incident where a three year old toddler, fell from a 2nd floor balcony at the Channel Apartments in North Cape May. The child was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital and released after several days. Read related story.
On the evening of July 4, Lower Township Police Officers responded to two separate serious motor vehicle accidents on bridges in Lower Township. First being on the route 109 Bridge leading into Cape May from the Parkway. The second being on the Seashore Road Veteran’s Bridge, over the canal leading into the West Cape May area. The accidents occurred just as heavy traffic was departing the City of Cape May following Cape May’s Fireworks, causing significant gridlock and traffic delays. Also during that time an electrical transformer caught fire causing a power outage in parts of the Erma section for several hours. Read related story.
On July 5th, Lower Township Police Officers were out in force directing traffic and conducting Crowd Control Operations for the township’s large Block Party and Fireworks Display along the bay in North Cape May. Police report a very large crowd for the event, however no major incidents were reported except for several incidents of missing small children, who were all eventually located and returned to their parents. Read related story.
In addition, prior to the Lower Township Fireworks, the Lower Township Police reported that the Middle Thorofare Bridge connecting Diamond Beach with the mainland, was stuck in the upright position, due to heat expansion on the bridge, for over 3 hours. The Erma Fire Department had to respond to the bridge and cool the structure with water for several hours before the bridge could be lowered. Lower Township Police Officers had to direct traffic to VVildwood Boulevard during that time. Read related story.