BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

OCEAN TOWNSHIP — A Tinton Falls man was arrested Dec. 21 for allegedly shooting an employee of an Ocean Township car wash with a pellet gun and leaving the scene, according to police reports.

On Dec. 19 at approximately 1:30 p.m., the victim, a 47 year-old Shrewsbury man reportedly felt something hit him in the back while he was filling a bucket with water at the Auto Bath Car Wash on Highway 35, Detective Sergeant Jeffrey Layton said.

When the victim turned around, he saw the accused sitting in the passenger seat of a gold Mercury Marquis holding a pellet gun.

Charles E. Smith, 26, was arrested two day later as the result of an investigation by Ocean Township Police Detective Michael Clancy.

Smith was charged with possession of a handgun and possession of an imitation firearm for unlawful purpose.

The pellet gun was recovered and Smith was released pending grand jury action, according to reports.