Crime & Safety

Accused Lakewood Cop Killer Enters Not Guilty Plea to Ammunition Charge

Suspect in killing of Lakewood police officer appeared in state Superior Court.

The man charged in the shooting death of a Lakewood police officer appeared in state Superior Court for a brief hearing this morning where his attorney entered a plea of not guilty to an ammunition charge.

During an arraignment, suspect Jahmell Crockam's attorney Frank Gonzalez entered his client's not guilty plea to a charge of unlawful possesion of hollow nose bullets in the fourth degree.

Crockam, 19, of Lakewood, is accused of killing Christopher Matlosz, a 27-year-old Lakewood police officer who lived in Manchester, previously served in Freehold Township and Englishtown, and was a Howell High School alumnus, on Jan. 14, authorities said.

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No other charges were addressed at the three-minute hearing, during which a shackled Crockam sat stoically facing forward before state Superior Court Judge Wendel E. Daniels.

Gonzalez, who serves as Crockam's public defender, said that his client's representation will remain the "status quo for the time being," though he added that "I anticipate something will be happening but I'll advise the court."

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Following the hearing, Gonzalez said he could not comment further on changes to Crockam's representation.

Daniels said that the case will carry for 60 days so that the court can conference this charge with the charge involving the death of Matlosz.

Hillary Bryce, senior assistant Ocean County prosecutor, said that the prosecution will not offer a plea before the conference is held.

Crockam last appeared in state Superior Court on Jan. 18 and said "yes" when asked by Daniels if he understood the murder and weapons charges against him.

He faces life in prison if convicted of murder, a court official said.

Charges against Crockam were filed while he was still at large before being arrested in a Camden apartment on Jan. 16. The charges were filed after a police investigation established probable cause, authorities said.

Crockam is accused of shooting Matlosz after he had pulled his patrol car up alongside Crockam on August Drive during the afternoon of Jan. 14. Police believe that Matlosz had begun to talk to Crockam when he allegedly shot him

He also faces a charge of possessing a firearm with the purpose of using it against another person in connection with allegedly shooting Matlosz, according to a copy of the signed complaint.

Days after appearing in court, it was announced that Crockam, also known as "Sav," as well as Lakewood resident Darius Johnson, also known as "Money," were charged with the Oct. 15 murder of Justin Williams, authorities said. Williams is also known as "Prodigy." 

Information about Williams' murder came about during the investigation into the killing of Matlosz.

"Our investigation revealed that on or about Oct. 15, 2010, Justin Williams accompanied Jahmell Crockam and Darius Johnson, during which time Justin Williams was shot and killed," Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford said last month.

Ford said Crockam and Johnson allegedly dumped the body on Ridge Road where it was found by a pedestrian.

In addition to the murder charges, both Crockham and Johnson were also charged with possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, according to a release from the Ocean County Prosecutors Office.

Crockam is being held at the Ocean County Jail on $5 million bail.


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