Man Charged With Luring, Following Teen Girl Near Wawa Parking Lot

Ralph Maffie (Photo: Ocean County Jail)

A Toms River man has been charged with luring or enticing a child after he allegedly approached a 14-year-old girl in his vehicle, asked her to get in, then followed her after she declined.

The incident occurred at the South Toms River Wawa on Dover Road. According to a statement from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Ralph Maffie, 76, approached the teen in his vehicle while she was walking in the Wawa parking lot.

“She indicated that he opened his car window and asked her if she needed a ride,” the statement said.

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Ralph Maffie (Photo: OCPO)

After receiving “no” for an answer, he is alleged to have followed her in his car, stopped next to her, opened his car door and asked if she wanted money to which she also answered, “no.” The girl told police that he drove away, made a U-turn and returned in her direction. She said she was frightened and then ran away from the vehicle.

South Toms River Police detectives and members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office’s High Tech Crime Unit as well as the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department investigated and identified Maffie as the suspect. He was lodged in the Ocean County Jail.