Motel Owner Attacked By Men Brandishing Tire Iron, Rifle At Jersey Shore: Police

GALLOWAY, N.J. (CBS)— A motel owner is recovering after police say he was attacked by two men wearing masks in Galloway on Sunday.

It happened around 8 a.m. at the Tri-Way Motel on the White Horse Pike.

According to the Galloway Police Department, two men wearing white plastic face masks--one brandishing a tire iron, the other armed with a rifle—assaulted the motel owner and then fled with stolen items.

A short time later, police located a suspicious vehicle near the crime scene with three occupants in the car.

"The vehicle displayed a fictitious license plate and all exterior factory markings were covered with duct tape,"  police said in a news release. " While speaking with the occupants, patrol observed one of the white masks used in the robbery sticking out from under the driver's seat."

During a later search of the vehicle, police found a second mask, latex gloves, a tire iron and items stolen from the Tri-Way motel.

A semi-automatic rifle, which police believe was used during the assault, was found near the vehicle. The firearm also had a 30 round high capacity magazine, however it contained no bullets at the time it was recovered, said police.

Matthew Lynch, 26, of Galloway and Emanuel Heath, 22, of Pleasantville are both facing charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, possession of an unlicensed assault firearm, possession of large capacity ammunition magazine, possession of other weapon, burglary, theft and aggravated Assault.

Both suspects remain held on $250,000 bail.

The motel owner was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.