A two-month investigation into drug activity in Ocean County culminated with the arrest of five county residents, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced.
Detectives from the prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, Northern and Southern Enforcement Units, joined forces with the Lakewood Police Department Street Crimes Unit, the Lakewood SWAT team, the Jackson Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department to conduct an investigation that resulted in various drug and weapons charges, according to a press release.
The investigation identified a residence at 1202 Arcadia Court, Jackson, and a residence at 523 Davina Court, Lakewood, as locations that were allegedly being used to store and distribute quantities of heroin.
Detectives identified three vehicles — a 2014 gold Chevrolet Impala, a 2009 black Nissan Maxima and a 2015 red Honda Civic — as being used by a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) distribution network to store and distribute quantities of CDS.
Detectives obtained no knock search warrants for 1202 Arcadia Court, Jackson, and 523 Davina Court, Lakewood. As a result of the investigation, police seized approximately 6,250 individual dosage units of heroin, more than $90,000 in cash, a MAC 10 submachine gun, and quantities of cocaine, prescription pills, marijuana and illegal steroids, according to the press release.
During the early evening hours of Sept. 1, detectives from the prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, members of the Lakewood and Jackson police departments and members of the Ocean County Sherriff’s Department located the 2009 black Maxima being operated by Michael Lewis, 31, of 1202 Arcadia Court, Jackson, in the area of Chestnut Street and Route 9 in Lakewood, according to the press release.
Detectives attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop on the Maxima. Lewis attempted to elude the officers, but he stopped after a short distance and was arrested, according to the press release. A search of the car led to the recovery of approximately 1,800 individual dosage units of heroin and a quantity of cocaine, according to the press release.
Lewis has been charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin over one-half ounce with the intent to distribute, possession of cocaine and eluding a police officer. Bail was set at $125,000 with no 10 percent option and Lewis was placed in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River.
In coordination with the motor vehicle stop of Lewis, detectives from the prosecutor’s Special Operations Group and members of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department and the Jackson Police Department executed the no knock search warrant at 1202 Arcadia Court.
Just before the officers executed the search warrant, an individual subsequently identified as Megan Crudup, 24, of 1202 Arcadia Court, Jackson, was observed leaving the residence and was stopped by investigators. Crudup was arrested, charged with possession of marijuana and released on a summons.
A search of the home resulted in the seizure of quantities of illegal steroids, prescription pills, marijuana and approximately $20,000 in cash, according to the press release.
While detectives were executing the search warrant at 1202 Arcadia Court, detectives observed the 2015 red Honda Civic leaving the area of 523 Davina Court in Lakewood. The vehicle was occupied by three individuals subsequently identified as Sherod Coleman, 32, of 523 Davina Court, Lakewood, Diane Hunt, 53, of Brick Township, and Sabrina Henderson, 34, of Brick Township.
Detectives and Lakewood police officers conducted a motor vehicle stop on the Honda. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 4,450 individual dosage units of heroin, a Mac 10 submachine gun and a loaded high capacity magazine for the MAC 10, according to the press release.
Coleman was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin over one-half ounce with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during a CDS offense, possession of a high capacity magazine and unlawful possession of a weapon. Bail was set at $200,000, cash only, and Coleman was placed in the county jail.
Hunt was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin over one-half ounce with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during a CDS offense, possession of a high capacity magazine and unlawful possession of a weapon. Bail was set at $50,000, with no 10 percent option, and Hunt was placed in the county jail.
Henderson was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin over one-half ounce with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during a CDS offense, possession of a high capacity magazine and unlawful possession of a weapon. Bail was set at $50,000, with no 10 percent option, and Henderson was placed in the county jail.
Shortly after the motor vehicle stop was conducted on the Honda, members of the Lakewood SWAT team executed the no knock search warrant at 523 Davina Court and subsequently seized approximately $2,400 in cash.
While conducting the investigation, detectives identified a safety deposit box Lewis was allegedly using to store proceeds from his alleged illicit drug distribution activities. On Sept. 2, detectives executed a search warrant on that safety deposit box and approximately $70,000 in cash was seized, according to the press release.
The Chevrolet, the Nissan and the Honda were all seized pending forfeiture proceedings, according to the press release.
