Toms River Man Charged In String Of Vehicle Burglaries Ordered Held

TOMS RIVER, NJ ? A Toms River man has been ordered held in the Ocean County Jail after his arrest in connection with multiple burglaries.

Kristopher R. Fudali, 45, was ordered held until trial by Ocean County Superior Court Judge David Fritch at a detention hearing on Monday that was disrupted when Fudali threw a chair and knocked out the video feed from the jail.

Fudali, who had been on probation since May 2023 in a prior burglary case, was arrested July 24 by Toms River police, who found him after a short chase when they answered a call reporting a man trying to get into vehicles, Police Chief Mitch Little said.

Police were called shortly before 1 a.m. about a man wearing a white T-shirt and khaki shorts trying to get into vehicles on St. Regis Court, Little said, and as officers checked the area, Patrolman Tyler Pinto saw the man sitting in a vehicle in a driveway on Feldmus Lane. The man ran into the woods but was soon found in the retention basin, Little said.

Officers recognized the man as Fudali, who had a warrant for his arrest that was issued June 29 in connection with other burglaries, Little said.

Toms River officers filed 14 charges against Fudali in connection with the July 24 arrest, including seven counts of burglary, three counts of theft by unlawful taking, three counts of criminal attempt - conduct, and one count of fraudulent use of a credit card, according to the Ocean County Corrections website.

Little said the investigation is continuing and additional complaints are pending against Fudali, who has been charged multiple times in 2024 with fraudulent use of credit cards that had been stolen from residents' vehicles.

Anyone with additional information about Fudali or related crimes should contact Toms River Detective Jennifer Grob at 732-349-0150, ext. 1319.

At the detention hearing Monday, Fritch had listened to the list of charges against Fudali, who has 28 prior convictions, including three of second-degree burglary and agreed to Assistant Prosecutor Annie Wen's request that he be held until trial

Fudali did not go quietly. After Fritch ordered Fudali held, the video feed from the room at the jail where he was appearing went out. A few moments passed and Wen told Fritch she had been notified by jail personnel that Fudali threw a chair at a monitor, knocking out the feed.

Fudali was moved to another room to address the request to revoke his probation. As Fritch considered the newest charges against him along with the nine pending charges from the June warrant, he ruled there was ample reason to revoke Fudali's probation.

"It's not 14 victims," Fudali protested, saying the judge was mixing up the number of charges with the number of crimes Fudali is accused of. When Fritch didn't respond, Fudali cursed at him.

"You're a f------ moron, judge," Fudali said just before he was removed from the room to be returned to his cell.