A Brick Township resident has been arrested and charged with drug and weapons offenses after a motor vehicle stop led to the discovery of cocaine and a handgun, Brick Township police announced.
A Brick Police Street Crimes Unit observed a vehicle that was behaving suspiciously in the area of Lanes Mill Road before pulling the vehicle over in Lakewood for multiple traffic violations.
Detectives identified the driver as Kayshon D. Johnson, a resident of Brick Township. His passenger, later identified as Raul Mendez Cervantes Jr. of Lakewood, was also present in the vehicle along with a juvenile. During the stop, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit was called to assist with the investigation.
A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered approximately 39 grams of crack cocaine, a small quantity of soft cocaine, and a loaded, defaced .40 caliber Ruger handgun with its serial number scratched off. Officers also discovered additional evidence, including multiple prescription ledger blanks, a digital scale used for weighing narcotics, along with another loaded magazine found in the glove compartment.
Johnson and Cervantes were taken into custody without incident and transported to Brick Police Department for booking and processing. Johnson faces multiple charges related to the possession of narcotics, the firearm, and related drug paraphernalia which include:
– Distribution of controlled dangerous substances
– Two counts of possession of controlled dangerous substances
– Possession of drug paraphernalia
– Possession of a weapon with a controlled dangerous substance
– Unlawful possession of a weapon
– Possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose
– Certain persons not to possess a weapon
– Possession of a defaced firearm
– Endangering the welfare of a minor
– Various traffic violations
Cervantes was arrested for several outstanding warrants out of multiple jurisdictions. Both individuals were transported and lodged in Ocean County Jail.
This incident highlights the ongoing dedication of the Brick Township Police Department and its law enforcement partners to combat drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession in our communities.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.