WILDWOOD — On Sept. 11 at approximately 2 a.m., Wildwood police responded to Tucker’s Pub, 3301 Atlantic Ave., on the report of a burglary in progress.
Witnesses on the scene had heard a loud noise coming from the area of the restaurant, police said. The witnesses saw a male leave Tucker’s Pub, which was closed for business at the time, carrying an item under his arm. They called police, gave a description of the perpetrator and maintained a visual surveillance until the police arrived.
Officers stopped the suspect, identified as Michael Merchel, 25, who was employed as a food server for the Bolero Resort and Conference Center and resides at 14 Aspen Drive in Court House.
Investigation revealed that the exterior door to the porch area of Tucker’s Pub had been kicked in. Merchel’s footwear matched a footprint on the door, police said.
Merchel was charged with burglary and lodged in county jail after he was unable to post $15,000 cash bail set by Judge Louis Belasco.
