Brandon Ivens/ Courtesy Middle Township Police Department

WILDWOOD — The arrest of Brandon Ivens, 23, of Rio Grande here by Wildwood police on Fri., Jan. 27 about 1:45 p.m. may also help Middle Township police solve burglaries in that jurisdiction.

According to Wildwood police, members of its Uniform Patrol Division responded to a residence in the 4400 block, Park Boulevard for the report of a disturbance.

When officers arrived, they found that the tenant of the multi-family complex returned home and encountered Ivens inside her residence.

During a confrontation that followed, Ivens allegedly physically assaulted the 63-year-old female. During a struggle, he allegedly continued to shove her with his palms in her chest area as he tried to flee the premises.

Eventually, the victim was pushed into the vestibule where she continued to struggle with Ivens, according to a release.

The victim then armed herself with a 2 x 2 wooden spindle and struck her attacker. She was able to take possession of a backpack that Ivens was carrying.

Ivens then fled the residence and continued to struggle with the victim for possession of the backpack.

Eventually, two local businessmen observed the confrontation and overheard the sounds of the struggle, and saw Ivens trying to flee.

They detained Ivens and held him until police arrived. He was identified by the victim and taken into custody.

Upon further investigation, Wildwood Police Detectives revealed that the backpack recovered contained jewelry that belonged to the victim.

Ivens was issued a criminal complaint from the incident for robbery, burglary, theft, and possession of crack cocaine, possession of a hypodermic syringe and possession of burglar tools.

Municipal Court Judge Christopher Robertson set Ivens’ bail at $100,000 cash, no 10 percent bond. Ivens was ordered not to have any contact with the victim. Unable to post bail, Ivens was remanded to Cape May County Correctional Center.

Earlier this week, Middle Township police issued a release on Ivens who was sought in connection with two residential burglaries in Rio Grande. The first burglary was on Linden Circle reported Jan. 18, and the second was on Maryland Avenue, reported Jan. 24.

On Jan. 24, Middle Township Detectives executed a search warrant at a former residence of Ivens, on Linden Circle. Stolen property was recovered from both alleged burglaries.

Middle Township police believed Ivens was homeless in the Rio Grande area.