Crime & Safety

UPDATE: 'Submerged Vehicle' Brings No Comment From Oaklyn Police

Emergency officials said a woman claimed her vehicle went into the water at Newton Lake Park, with her boyfriend inside, but officials could not find evidence to support her claims.

Oaklyn police declined to comment Friday on an incident the day before that had local emergency responders combing  for signs of a submerged car. There's just one problem—no car ever went into the water, according to authorities.

Kelly Rainier, of Clarksboro in Gloucester County, now faces a charge from Camden County Park Police about the false report. Oaklyn police took Rainier, whose age is unavailable, into custody Thursday following a foot chase in the area. An officer at the scene described Rainier as being "under the influence."

It wasn't Rainier's first contact with Oaklyn police this week, according to reports. Oaklyn police had reportedly detained the woman Wednesday evening, one night prior to the incident at Newton Lake, because of a separate issue for which police offered no further details. 

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Oaklyn Police Lieutenant Joseph Abbate would not comment about the incident. 

"The actual incident at the lake is being handled by the Camden County Park Police and by Collingswood," said Abbate. "The matter pertaining to our (Oaklyn's) jurisdiction is still under investigation, and we are not releasing any information at this time."

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After making her claims Thursday afternoon, emergency officials said Collingswood, Westmont and Pennsauken police and fire departments conducted a search of the lake, but found no evidence that a car had become submerged. 

Officials also said that no evidence, specifically tire tracks, was visible at the lake's edge. 


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