Five men arrested in gunshot incident

LONG BRANCH - Five men from Neptune and Asbury Park are facing charges after a gunshot was fired in a Long Branch neighborhood last week.

According to the Long Branch Police Department, a city police officer was on patrol in the area of Westwood and Third avenues Sept. 4 when he heard a single gunshot and observed a group of men arguing on the porch of a Third Avenue residence.

Officer Brian Garrett approached the individuals on the porch and saw five men attempting to retreat inside the home, according to police reports.

The accused were all apprehended and one man was found hiding on the roof, according to reports.

Police arrested and charged Lavarin Peterson, 23, and Joe Marcelus, 21, both of Neptune, and Winesarre Lindort, 22, of Asbury Park, with obstructing administration of law and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, according to reports.

Police also arrested and charged Stevenson J. Baptiste, 20, of Asbury Park, with injury to a law enforcement animal, obstructing administration of law, resisting arrest and aggravated assault on a police officer, according to reports.

Bail was set at $25,000 for Marcelus and at $20,000 for each of the other four accused with no 10 percent option, according to reports.

At the scene of the incident, police located a loaded 9mm gun on the roof of the residence, according to reports. There were no reported injuries as a result of the shot being fired, according to reports.