On September 6, 2010, Middle Township Police received numerous 911 calls reporting a man struck by a vehicle in the Lowes parking lot located in Rio Grande. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the accused, Joshua Dupont, 23 years old from Deptford, NJ approached the victims, who were loading building materials into their vehicle.
Dupont jumped into the driver’s seat of the victim’s vehicle and started the vehicle, leaving the scene. While leaving the scene, both victims were struck by the vehicle, both receiving injuries. Both victims, identified as Charles Aldred (74 years old) and his wife Joanne (71 years old), from Leesburg, Florida, were transported to Cape Regional Medical Center for abrasions sustained.
As Dupont drove away in the victim’s vehicle, he struck a parked vehicle and then headed north on Route 9. A description of the vehicle, described as a red van, was given to patrol units. The van was located on the shoulder of Route 9, in the area of the A&J Mobile Home Park. After a brief search, Dupont was apprehended and taken to police headquarters for processing.
Dupont was charged with carjacking ( a crime of the first degree) and eluding ( a crime of the third degree) along with numerous motor vehicle offenses. Bail was set by Honorable George Neidig, JMC at $50,000 full cash. Dupont is currently incarcerated at the Cape May County Correctional Center.
