Toms River Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team made multiple drug arrests over the past month during investigations targeting suspected narcotics activity throughout the township, officials said.
In one investigation, officers conducting surveillance near Coolidge and Windsor avenues attempted to stop a Honda Accord driven by a suspect. The driver fled at a high rate of speed through the neighborhood. Police did not pursue the vehicle in accordance with Attorney General guidelines and in the interest of public safety. On September 2, the suspect turned himself in at District One. He was charged with second-degree eluding, issued several motor vehicle citations, and lodged in the Ocean County Jail.
In a separate incident, officers conducting surveillance observed a man suspected of distributing narcotics while driving a white Mazda. The vehicle was stopped at Wawa on Route 70. A K9 sniff resulted in a positive indication for narcotics, and a consent search uncovered paraphernalia and crack cocaine residue. The driver was arrested and also had two active warrants.
During surveillance in Friendly Village, officers observed a male suspect leaving a targeted residence. A traffic stop was conducted near Route 70 and Whitesville Road. The suspect had several outstanding warrants, and his vehicle was towed pending a search warrant. A subsequent search uncovered raw heroin and drug paraphernalia.
Another investigation involved continued surveillance at the Oceanview Inn and Suites, which resulted in multiple search warrants. A suspect was stopped on his bicycle near Lillie and Adams avenues and transported back to the hotel, where officers executed a search warrant. Police recovered crack cocaine, a digital scale with drug residue, and packaging materials. The suspect was arrested and lodged in the Ocean County Jail.
In a separate investigation near Second Avenue, officers stopped a woman who had been observed leaving an area associated with drug trafficking. K9 officers conducted a sniff of the vehicle and received a positive indication. Police located a methamphetamine kit containing residue, a pipe, and a straw. The woman was arrested and released on a summons.
Officers also investigated suspected narcotics activity near Bay and Vaughn avenues following several citizen complaints. A vehicle connected to a previous investigation involving an overdose entered the neighborhood. The driver told officers he had traveled from Trenton as an Uber driver to pick up a passenger, but the trip had not been logged in the Uber application. A K9 sniff resulted in a positive indication for narcotics. Police said the driver was found with eight bricks of heroin, containing approximately 400 wax folds, and a quantity of crack cocaine. He was arrested and charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of heroin, and possession of crack cocaine.
In another operation, officers observed a 49-year-old Brick man engage in a brief transaction with a 42-year-old Pine Beach man. Police conducted motor vehicle stops on both men after they left the area. K9 units assisted at both stops and indicated the presence of narcotics. Officers recovered cocaine from one man, who was charged with possession of crack cocaine. The other man was charged with distribution of crack cocaine, and $2,410 in cash was seized pending civil forfeiture.
