As a society, we are to act in a manner of reasonable conduct. It is reasonable to deduce that since cups and the ice dispenser are located next to each other, a person is acting reasonably in assuming that soda is chargeable, but ice and water, i.e., life's necessities are free. McDonald's, Burger King and Subways offers ice and water free for anyone, and no purchase is required. These establishments do however require the person to request a cup, unless he has his own cup. Should this criminal charge stand, what precedent are we allowing. Don't our Police have sufficient common sense to realize and explain to the cafeteria manager his absurd claim. Perhaps, as campus Police, they are not at liberty to express impartial opinions. I hope that the municipal judge throws out the case, as FRIVOLOUS. Obviously, the cafeteria manager has other underlying issues with this person, and these issues may have clouded his reasoning. He and his management should ask, what image is the school presenting when it DENIES ITS STUDENT THE BASIC LIFE'S NECESSITIES AND CRIMINALLY CHARGES HIM FOR THE SAME.

Given this, I ask all parents and future potential college students to STRIKE THIS SCHOOL from your list. My view, as a parent, is that I want my child to focus on his eduction and not be diverted by a frivolous act as criminally charging my child for a cup of ice, a cup of water or a cup of ice water, let alone an absurd charge a $1.80 for ice and maybe $3.60 for a cup of ice water.

I guess you could say this kid's future has been...put on ice.

A lawsuit over $1.80 worth of ice? That's cold!

Where I went to college, water and ice is free.

Don't look now__________________but the entire USA has been consumed by Mass Insanity since 9/11/01. It costs about $30 in police wage and paid benefit time just for the time spent on writing up the arrest report. If he pleads innocent then a trial by jury will cost about $5,000 and if he is unemployed and he then qualifies for a Public Defender that will cost us another $5,000 to $10,000 to pursue the matter. Every Brookdale School official who is requested to do so by the Defense attorney will have to show up in court to act as witnesses and testify and then justify to the jury as to just how they determined that a paper cup with ice cubes in it is valued at $1.60 Plus, more money is wasted on paying the school employees salaries and reimbursing them all for transportation while they are there in Freehold Court to testify. Brookdale certainly is NOT an example of Higher Education by any means___but instead an example of mental retardation. They need to change the name to Ding Dong School.

Brookdale should worry more about getting reimbursed the hundreds of thousands of dollars stolen by the former president of the college. I am a student at the school and have seen professors and staff help themselves to cups of ice and water. Nothing posted anywhere letting you know it is wrong. Again, just goes to show how out of touch with reality the school and its board are. If I was this student, I would sue if they touched my transcripts as threatened.

I'm sure it was the value of the cup he is being charged with, not the ice. And honestly, what costs the business owner usually costs the customer. Why didn't he just ask? The cashier was right there. Stinks that it is of so little value. But given the situation I'm sure the judge will take it easy on him.

That is not a real crime, $1.80 for ice. Making unjustified claims, is a crime against the victim. The management making unjustified claims, is against the law. An arrest charge will stick even though the judge dismisses the case. The victim will have to either pay a lawyer, or do the leg work himself to get the arrest charge expunged. Meaning remove from his record on the Monouth County Courts & Police computers. It doesn't matter if the case gets dismissed, the charge will still be there. Why did any body come forward for this victim and give the $1.80 to the management and shut their faces up? They have something against this person for taking ice. If I were the student, I would turn around and charge the management, for harassment, discrimaination, and unjustifide claims. There you go, and I am not a lawyer, but going through this stuff with my own family. My family has put charges against me. I had to fight in court, case gets dismissed. My charges are still on their computers. My family have been harassing me for years and they are still doing it. This victim, must turn it around, and not get angry. It is the management, or their employees that have the problem. I hope this person reads this, and finds this helpful.

It is not the charge for the ice. He stole a cup by reaching over the counter. It is theft, whether it is a candy bar or cup, it doesn't matter. Ice was what the student claims that he was getting and if he had apologized, the issue would have been resolved. The article fails to mention he was aggressive toward the police officers. If you agree with the actions of the student, then you are also endorsing theft. If you believe stealing is an acceptable behavior, then your own comments lack merit.

I use to work at Brookdale a long time ago and we always had to pay for the cup not the ice. If he took a cup and didn't pay for it, then he should be liable to pay for that, but a law suit or criminal charges, come on, that is ridiculous. I guess the people bringing this man up on charges don't have enough work to do themselves. Honestly, with the tuition costs nowadays, a darn cup and ice should be included. A better way to handle this would be to bring this to the attention of the Dean of Students and let them speak to this student about the "rules" at Brookdale. Give the boy a slap on the wrist and let him be on his way. What a major waste of time and money. Brookdale--- you should be ashamed of yourself.

dear John Crain,

#1) Student did not enter a store! it was the school caf!

#2) The fountain is self serve, the student did not reach "behind" the counter! Cups are next to the fountain!

#3) The student when confronted, was unaware that there was a charge for ice and offered to pay for the ice! (which by the way, is nowhere on the menu that there is a charge for a cup of ice! If there was, I do not believe the student would have taken the cup of ice and try to "get over" and not pay for it!) Maybe that should be ad vetised on the menu/bulletin board or right above or to the side of the fountain!!!
4) the student offered to pay and was informed that the police were on the way! Really??? The student did not believe in his mind he was "stealing"!!!

5.) Maybe you should get your facts straight before passing judgement!!!

Oh, and now the common sense side of this... How much did $$$ did they spend on the very high profile law firm that they retained to represent the school/caf?? Ultimately, who paid for that, along with all the wasted man-hours?? Community College?? Uhh the taxpayer?? Great use of funds!! THIS COULD HAVE BEEN SQUASHED WHEN THE STUDENT OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE ICE!! THE KID GOT THE ICE AND SAT DOWN!! NOT RUN OUT OF THE CAF!! NOT FLEE THE CAMPUS!! NOT LEAVE THE STATE!!! GIMME A BREAK!!!

another thing john crain...

maybe they should post "ICE $1.80"

not condoning stealing or theft!!

strictly campaigning for common sense to prevail!!!

the majority of fountains in any established that are standalone do not charge for ice & free refills!!!

I have yet to see a formal write up on the police records as to what the formal charges are on this...put aside the fact these articles I have read were from the students stand point only. What is the OFFICIAL story. I saw the video but only of him walking away with CUP in hand, of which I believe the real charges are for. Where is the video of the confrontation or the cashiers story? Until then easy on the caps lock kids, there are no truths to opinions. Anyone with a sane mind knows that.

To the student...Get a lawyer and sue the college.

first of all this is completely ridiculous. there are kids at rutgers jumping off bridges for being bullied and the police are doing less about that then they are about a kid taking ice. if it is really that serious i will mail brookdale $2.00 and tell them to keep the change!

The kid wasn't ticketed because of the "ice"... he was pulled aside, talked to and had the situation explained to him. Unfortunately, he became aggressive, verbally abusive and combative. Therefore, the Police were called to calm the situation. Again, and unfortunately, he resisted unfavorably - THAT's WHY... he got in trouble!

The lawyer for Cedric Calero says authorities on Friday dropped a disorderly persons charge against the 18-year-old freshman at Brookdale Community College in Middletown.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/crime_courts/143992326_Ice-theft_charge_dropped_for_NJ_college_student.html

The prisons are filled with young men that become aggressive, verbally abusive and combative when they are caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

People that are good with hammers view every problem as a nail.

First year of junior college and what has he learned?

Wow! A tough guy poster complaining about a 'tough-guy' cop. If James Episcopia was here now you wouldn't be pounding the key board with capital letters and you know it.
Bottom line...this community college freshman won't be taking a cup of ice without paying for it anymore, eh? I would say he has learned his lesson on how to behave when out in public with law abiding citizens.

Calero had a school disciplinary hearing and has to write a two-page essay on why it's important to follow the rules.

That is why is it called 'continuing education'.

Brookdale is an open-admission college, available to anyone 18 years of age or older, or anyone who is a high school graduate or holder of an equivalency diploma.

Security cameras in the cafeteria.

In early 2011, President Peter Burnham and Finance Director George Fehr were suspended without pay pending the outcome of a criminal investigation into allegations of fraud after an annual audit revealed spending irregularities. Burnham subsequently resigned. The criminal investigation is being conducted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

Enough said.

and your point???

The only idiot bigger than you, is myself... for getting into some pissing match with some clown that definitely got abused throughout his years in high school!! Enjoy getting your rocks off by commenting on all of your issues online with others!! Dope!