Theft from Vehicle Leads to Robbery and Drug Distribution Charges

ERMA — On Thursday, Aug. 5th, at approximately 11:20 p.m. Lower Township Patrol Officers were called to the 100 Block of Carriage Lane in the township’s Erma Section for a report of two men breaking into a motor vehicle.
Investigation on scene determined that several witnesses had identified the two men as Ryan Cluff, age 18, of the 200 Block of Fishing Creek Road and Kyle Flannelly, age 18, of the 300 Block of Pine Lane, both of Lower Township.
Witnesses reported that both men were observed entering a parked motor vehicle where they removed two two Ipods, then intentionally scratched the paint of the motor vehicle.
Flannelly then got into his motor vehicle to depart the area, as Cluff was running to join Flannelly in the motor vehicle, a 14-year-old male witness then approached Cluff, at which point Cluff punched the 14 year old in the face before both men fled the area in Flannelly’s vehicle, being a tan four-door Subaru.
A short time later, Cluff was located walking in the area of his residence on Fishing Creek Road by Patrol Officer Brian McEwing.
Cluff was arrested at that time and transported to the Lower Township Police Department for processing where he was charged with:
One count of robbery, being a second degree crime, due to the fact that a person was assaulted during the commission of the theft.
Lower Township Municipal Court Judge, David DeWeese set Cluff’s bail at $25,000 cash. Cluff was then lodged in the Cape May County Jail in default of bail.
Then at approximately 1:30 a.m. Patrol Officer William Barcas conducted a motor vehicle stop on the motor vehicle being driven by Kyle Flannelly, being a 1999, tan, four-door Subaru, on Seashore Road in the township’s Erma Section.
Flannelly was then placed under arrest for the Robbery incident. In addition, at the time of his arrest, Flannelly was found to be in possession of 21 separate baggies of Marijuana, a Glass Pipe and a Metal Grinder.
Flannelly was transported to Lower Township Police Department for processing where he was charged with the following offenses:
One Count of Robbery, being a second degree crime.
Possession of over 50 grams. of Marijuana, being a fourth degree crime.
Possession of Marijuana With Intent to Distribute, being a third degree crime.
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
One Count of Criminal Mischief.
Flannelly was also issued a Motor Vehicle Summons for having a Controlled Dangerous Substance in a Motor Vehicle.
Lower Township Municipal Court Judge, David DeWeese set a Blanket Bail of $25,000 cash, for Flannelly’s criminal charges. Flannelly was then lodged in the Cape May County Jail in default of bail.
The incident was investigated by Patrol Officers Brian McEwing, William Barcas and Detective Arthur Mason.