Breaking: Search in Barnegat triggers lockdown

Barnegat residents are under advisory to stay in their homes, and schools are sheltering in place while a police search continues for, likely the Ancora inmate who escaped Tuesday. The advisory now extends through Ocean Township. 

According to Barnegat PD Sergeant Jeffrey Ryan, a 2015 Chevy Silverardo. reported stolen in Hammonton, appeared in the lot of the CVS on West Bay Avenue at about 10:17 this morning.

They believe that Arthur Buckel, who bolted the minimum-security prison just weeks before parole, was at the wheel.

The search now involves Ocean County Sheriff's officers, the county SWAT Team and Special Operations Group, New Jersey State Police, and officers from the Barnegat, Ocean Township and Stafford departments.

Patrols and K9 teams have fanned out along the Garden State Parkway and other likely escape routes in the vicinity.

Schools in both communities instituted sheltering in place, and residents of both towns were advised to stay in their houses with the doors locked.   However police say that there is no perceptible threat to students in any schools.

This is a breaking story. We'll have more details as they emerge.