David Giordano (Photo: Ocean County Jail) and a blue line painted on Hooper Avenue. (Credit: Ocean County Scanner News)
The story of a Toms River man arrested last week in a bizarre case in which he allegedly stole a truck he owned from an impound lot, parked it in the mayor’s space at town hall, then illegally drew a “thin blue line” down Hooper Avenue has gotten even stranger: the paint was apparently stolen, too.
Toms River police said Monday that David Giordano, 43 of Toms River, who had already been charged with taking the car from impound as well as criminal mischief for illegally painting the blue line near the Ocean County Justice Complex, is now facing additional charges related to the theft of paint from Home Depot and drug possession.
The March 22 incident has been under investigation since it occurred. On Friday, April 2, additional summonses were issued to Giordano for simple possession of drugs (the substance in question was not divulged) and possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as shoplifting. Video surveillance from Home Depot, police said, showed Giordiano shoplifting 11 cans of blue spray paint which were later used to paint the blue line on Hooper Avenue.
“While we appreciate the overwhelming support for law enforcement, we can not condone the defacing of any property,” the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said following the original announcement of charges in the case.
The blue line has since been painted over.
Giordano still faces the original charges of theft of movable property, theft of services, burglary, and criminal mischief in addition to the new allegations.
He remains lodged in Ocean County Jail.
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