Motel mugging reported in Toms River, suspect sought

A Lacey Township 22-year-old is recovering, allegedly from a severe beating at the hands of two men who barged into his Toms River motel room Monday night, and police are on the prowl.

According to information from Toms River PD, officers were summoned to the Howard Johnson's hotel at 9:15 PM. The victim told them that he was inside a room with a 21-year-old woman from Port Monmouth.

Answering a knock on the door, he told investigators, he found his 18-year-old ex-girlfriend, also from Port Monmouth, standing in the portal, police said.

A second later, he told authorities, the men stormed the room, delivered him a beat-down, took $200 cash, and fled police said.

The victim needed treatment at Community Medical Center in Toms River for what police described as extensive injuries.

Police offered no identities of the victim or of either woman involved, no indication of corroborating statements from anyone in nearby or adjoining rooms, nor a description of the alleged assailants..However, a source close to the investigation expressed confidence that the case would be wrapped up quickly.

The case is being handled by Patrolman Joe Mastronardy and Detective Lou Santora.