An addiction to a controlled substance is like a ticking bomb in many ways. Without an effective intervention, there will eventually be an explosive consequence for the user’s health, freedom, or both. Often, this consequence comes in the form of an arrest for a drug crime.
Fortunately for people facing such charges, there are some programs that can help defuse the addiction and put the accused on a path toward a brighter future.
A group of law enforcement agencies dubbed “Operation Justice Served”, consisting of many federal, state, county, and local officials, arrested 42 individuals over the last month for their involvement in a drug trafficking network.
Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced that the arrests were connected to a distribution network operating out of Freehold, New Jersey. The charges include possession and distribution of a number of different controlled substances including: heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and prescription pain medications classified as opiates, such as Oxycodone and Percocet.
“The joint efforts of these multiple law enforcement agencies involved in OPERATION JUSTICE SERVED have accomplished the mission of taking down this local drug trafficking network responsible for bringing drugs into the county and threatening quality of life and the safety of residents.” Gramiccioni said.
Monmouth County judge sentenced a former Long Branch resident to jail for fatally hitting and killing a Monmouth County University student while under the influence of drugs.
Joseph Stovall, 48, was sentenced Friday, November 4th for accident that occurred on September 11th, 2013. Stovall, under the influence of Xanax, crashed into two cars that were parked because of an earlier fender bender on Jolin Avenue in Long Branch. Victoria Tropper, 21, and Thomas Triano, 49, of Cherry Hill, NJ were the two drivers involved in the earlier fender bender. While exchanging information, Stovall swerved, crashing into Tropper and her car, killing the senior psychology student on impact. Triano, whom was lucky to survive, walked away with several cuts. Stovall pled guilty on June 24th vehicular homicide and assault by while being under the influence of a non-prescribed Xanax. The Schedule IV controlled substance contributed to Stovall’s sentencing.
Under the Controlled Substance Act, a controlled substance is defined as a drug that is illegal for sale or a drug used for medical purposes regulated by Federal and State law for distribution. Any controlled substance used for medical purposes must be obtained by a doctor’s prescription. The statute classifies all controlled substances into five “Schedules” with the most dangerous and addictive drugs falling under the 1st schedule. In the state of NJ driving under the influence of an illegally obtained schedule IV controlled substance is punishable by a heavy fine and/or jail time.
A jury in Monmouth County Superior Court recently indicted a 25-year-old Sea Bright man who is accused of stabbing a retired police officer outside of a Long Branch bar. The defendant is facing several serious criminal charges, including first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault, and various weapons offenses.
The aforementioned case began at approximately 11:45 p.m. on April 9th at the Arena Bar in Long Branch. The defendant, 25-year-old Sea Bright resident Michael Carter, was allegedly involved in an altercation before being removed from the bar by security personnel, as well as Joseph Walker, a retired member of the Long Branch Police Department, and one of Walker’s friends.
After the incident inside the bar, Walker was stabbed 4 times in the face and stomach and his friend was stabbed once in the back. Fortunately, both received medical treatment and are currently recovering. Carter and another man, 26-year-old Eatontown resident Emmanuel Bylander, reportedly attempted to flee but were arrested shortly therafter.
Authorities recently arrested three Holmdel residents who are accused of stealing thousands of dollars by fraudulently using a man’s credit cards and bank accounts.
According to a news release from the Holmdel Police Department, a man contacted them on June 11 after experiencing issues with his Bank of America credit card and checking account. Upon investigation, officials discovered that there was approximately $29,000 unaccounted for among both accounts.
Officers from the Holmdel Police Department proceeded to work with members of the Bank of America Fraud unit over the next two months to identify potential suspects. They reviewed security photos from the bank, which showed several incidents involving check deposits and the use of the man’s ATM card.
Authorities from the Wall Township Police Department recently charged a man with driving while intoxicated (DWI) and drug possession after a motor vehicle stop. The man is now facing additional charges for aggravated assault, among other offenses, as police say he attempted to stab an officer with a pen while being processed at police headquarters.
The motor vehicle stop in question was conducted just after 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 31, at which time a Wall Township Patrolman stopped a driver near the northbound Garden State Parkway exit ramp on Highway 138. The driver, 28-year-old Staten Island resident Vincent Russo, was charged with DWI shortly thereafter.
When police conducted a search of Russo’s vehicle, they reportedly discovered marijuana and the prescription drug Xanax, after which Russo was also charged with possession of marijuana under 50 grams and unlawful possession of prescription drugs (he did not have a valid prescription).
A Lakewood man pleaded guilty to sex crimes against a 9-year-old girl in Ocean County Superior Court recently.
The defendant in this case, 27-year-old Lakewood resident Agustin Salvidar-Delvalle, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated sexual assault before Ocean County Superior Court Judge James M. Blaney on Wednesday, July 20th.
The charges arose out of a coordinated investigation among members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Victims Unit, the Lakewood Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Department. Investigators believed that Salvidar-Delvalle sexually assault the 9-year-old girl during two separate incidents between August and December of 2015.
After police received two reports of burglary and suspicious behavior at a Holmdel Township residence, they discovered a large party in progress and arrested 27 individuals. Those arrested included adults and juveniles, many of whom are facing charges including underage drinking and providing alcohol to minors.
According to Holmdel Police Sergeant Vincent Imperato, authorities received the initial burglary report on Wednesday, June 29th. They arrived on the scene at approximately 9:30 p.m. to find a vacant home with evidence indicating that a large party may have occurred recently. Investigators reportedly discovered empty alcohol containers, garbage, missing items, and damage to the property.
The following night, Holmdel police responded to another call reporting suspicious persons. This time, when they arrived at the property at approximately 1:30 a.m., they found a large party in progress. Ultimately, police arrested 27 individuals, including 21 adults and 6 juveniles, all of whom were under the legal age to consume alcohol.
Summertime at the Jersey Shore conjures images of sun and sand, parties and events–the moments that memories are made of. Every year, the summer months mean scores of visitors descending upon beach towns to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the many activities that the Jersey Shore offers. However, this time of year also entails a very different reality, as the increase in population brings an associated increase in crime, arrests, and law enforcement activities.
Consider this: the 22 coastal towns in New Jersey are home to approximately 440,000 residents. In the midst of summer, the population at the Jersey Shore can swell to over 900,000. With this dramatic increase in population, there is also an increase in crime, the majority of which involves relatively low-level criminal offenses and municipal ordinance violations, according to Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden.
As parties and people grow, arrests involving drugs, alcohol, and theft rise as well. In order to adequately patrol and enforce the law in Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May counties, police departments in these areas hire seasonal officers to accommodate the ramp-up in law enforcement activities. Generally, this results in frequent arrests for drug crimes such as marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia; alcohol-related crimes such as disorderly conduct, underage drinking, and DWI; and minor theft crimes such as petty theft and shoplifting.
Authorities in Ocean Township have requested the public’s assistance identifying a suspect who was captured on surveillance video while burglarizing a local residence recently.
The burglary occurred just prior to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 19th, at which time a male suspect, who remains unidentified, knocked on the front door of an Ocean Township home before entering through an unlocked window. Inside the residence, surveillance video documents the man as he appears to steal two laptop computers, wipe the doorknob with his shirt, and flee the scene through the window in which he entered.
Ocean Township police have requested that any and all information regarding the suspect identity and his whereabouts be forwarded to them immediately by phone at 732-531-1800 or 732-531-1428, or via email at CrimeTips@oceantwp.org. The anonymous tip line can also be reached at 732-531-3323.
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