Rain-soaked investigators continue the manhunt for Arthur Buckel, the inmate who fled South Jersey's Ancora minimum-security lockup Tuesday and was traced to Barnegat today, triggering school lockdowns and shelter-in-place warnings there and in neighboring Ocean Township.

Arthur Buckel (Barnegat PD)
Arthur Buckel (Barnegat PD)
loading...

According to Barnegat PD Sergeant Jeffrey Ryan, a 2015 Chevy Silverardo. reported stolen in Hammonton, appeared in the lot of the CVS on West Bay Avenue at about 10:17 this morning. Surveillance images from the store reveal Buckel buying chewing gum and other items.

The search now involves Ocean County Sheriff's officers, the county SWAT Team and Special Operations Group, New Jersey State Police state Department of Corrections officers, and patrols from the Barnegat, Ocean Township and Stafford departments.

Arthur Buckel (Barnegat PD)
Arthur Buckel (Barnegat PD)
loading...

"We still have approximately six K9s in the area, as well as over 100 officers on fixed perimeter locations as well as roving details," Barnegat PD Sergeant Jeff Ryan said.

Patrols and K9 teams fanned out along the Garden State Parkway and other likely escape routes in the vicinity, their capbilities challenged by ongoing rain.

"K9s work off of scent," Ryan said, "and rain, including hail, of which we got a lot today, eliminates the scent."

Ryan added that Buckel was not found at the home of a distant relative in the township. But he has another in Berkeley Township, where police have been brought into consultation. No warnings have been issued for Berkeley Township residents.

Barnegat suspect search (Courtesy Tripp Rogers)
Barnegat suspect search (Courtesy Tripp Rogers)
loading...

Buckel is described as 5'9", weighing 180 pounds, with blue eyes and wrist tattoos. Anyone spotting him is cautioned not to approach him, but to call police.

Schools in both communities instituted sheltering in place, and residents of both towns were advised to stay in their houses with the doors locked.   However police say that there is no perceptible threat to students in any schools. Ocean Township students underwent normal dismissals, but were not permitted to walk or bicycle to their homes.

More From 105.7 The Hawk