Brick police, once again, conducted an operation at a Wawa store on brick Boulevard, arresting nine people on various criminal charges. The latest group of arrests comes a week after police apprehended several individuals on drug and theft charges at the same store, located at 116 Brick Boulevard.
The latest round of arrests came November 12, according to Sgt. Jim Kelly.
Officers in the area observed three men selling perfume in the parking lot of the Wawa store, Kelly said. When officers approached to determine if they had a permit to solicit, one of the men, Andres Rodriguez, 26, of East Brunswick, was found to have an active warrant for his arrest. Officers arrested Rodriguez on the warrant, and all three men were issued summonses for soliciting without a permit. After processing, he was released on his own recognizance.
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Shannon Kieffer (Photo: Ocean County Jail)
Officers that night had also observed a female, Shannon Kieffer 33, of Toms River, take merchandise from the Wawa without paying. Kieffer left the store and entered the back seat of a vehicle and the vehicle left the scene. Officers stopped the vehicle and arrested her for shoplifting. She was also found to be in possession of a prescription legend drug. Kieffer was subsequently lodged into Ocean County Jail.
Tyler Bartholomew (Photo: Ocean County Jail)
While officers had the vehicle stopped for Kieffer, a further investigation at the scene of the stop led to the arrest of Tyler Bartholomew, 26, of Rhode Island Avenue in Brick. Bartholomew was charged with possession of a synthetic controlled dangerous substance, and was also found to allegedly be in possession of a container of someone else’s urine. He was subsequently charged with possession of a device to defraud the administration of a drug test. Bartholomew was also lodged into Ocean County Jail.
On the morning of Friday, November 15, four more arrests were made, Kelly said.
Eugene Samuels (Photo: Ocean County Jail)
Ashley Rose (Photo: Ocean County Jail)
Officers in the area of the Wawa, according to Kelly, observed a drug transaction take place between Eugene Samuels, 39, of Toms River and Ashley Rose 33, of Toms River. Samuels was charged with three counts of possession of a prescription legend drug, and three counts of possession with intent to distribute. Rose was charged with three counts of possession of a prescription legend drug. Both suspects were subsequently lodged into Ocean County Jail.
Officers then “observed suspicious activity” take place as a vehicle pulled into the parking lot and the driver entered the Wawa store, only to leave with a sample cup of coffee, said Kelly. K-9 Officer Scott Smith observed the driver, Renee Simonovich, 32, of Skyline Drive, talking on her cell phone while driving, and he stopped her vehicle.
An on-scene investigation led to the arrest of Simonovich on charges with possession of crack, heroin, paraphernalia, and possession of methadone with intent to distribute. Simonovich was processed and released on summonses for those charges.
While in the same area, officers observed a person they were familiar with, Kelly said, identified as Jason Feliciano, 32, of Manchester. According to police, officers knew that Feliciano’s driver’s license was suspended and that he had an active warrant for his arrest. An investigation at the scene led to the discovery of prescription legend drugs found in his vehicle, Kelly said. Feliciano was arrested, processed, and released on a summons.
On the morning of Saturday, Nov. 16, officers made two additional arrests.
According to the statement, Patrolman Joseph DeLuca observed a male inside the Wawa store remove merchandise without paying. The male, Ronnie Ferrigno, 29, of Berkeley Township, was placed under arrest by DeLuca for shoplifting. He was subsequently processed and released on a summons.
Albert Pettit (Photo: Ocean County Jail)
Officers in the area also observed a male distribute controlled dangerous substances, according to police. An investigation on the scene resulted in the discovery of prescription legend drugs and proceeds of a shoplifting. The suspect, Albert Pettit, 33, of Jackson, was arrested and charged with distribution of a prescription legend drug, possession of a prescription legend drug, and shoplifting. He was subsequently lodged into Ocean County Jail.
“Although recent street crimes investigations and stings have focused on this particular location, the Brick Police are conducting similar tactics in several areas throughout our township,” Kelly said in the statement. “Chief James Riccio hopes to send a clear message to would-be wrongdoers that criminal activity here will be dealt with swiftly and thoroughly. The peace and well-being of our residents are our first priority. Chief Riccio would also like to commend the members of the Brick Drug Enforcement Unit, SET team and patrol division who have been doing an outstanding job following up on information of criminal activity about the township and making these apprehensions.”
Suspects whose photos were available were published with this story.
