Brick Cops Foil Drug Deal in Walmart Parking Lot, Arrest 2

Brick Twp. Police car. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Brick cops arrested two men after undercover officers patrolling the Walmart parking lot spotted the pair involved in a drug deal, according to police.

The incident occurred July 4 at 5:45 p.m., at which time the department’s Selective Enforcement Team was patrolling the big box store’s parking area in undercover vehicles. According to Sgt. Neal Pedersen, SET team members observed a gray Nissan Murano drive through the parking lot being operated by a a man described as a black male, ultimately identified as Timothy Cole, who they had recognized from previous encounters.

Cole, Pedersen said, parked his vehicle in a parking space near the Wendy’s restaurant where he waited several minutes until a blue Chrysler minivan parked in the area. At that point a man described as a white male, later identified as Jeremiah Wicks, exited the minivan and entered the Nissan occupied by Cole.

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“Officers were able to see an exchange of money between the two subjects and Wicks exited the vehicle and returned to his minivan,” Pedersen said.

Officers then stopped both of the men involved in the alleged drug deal and told them what they had just witnessed.

It was determined that Wicks had just purchased 50 bags of heroin with the stamp “BLUE MAGIC” from Cole. Twenty more bags of heroin stamped “BLUE MAGIC” were discovered in Cole’s vehicle on scene. Cole’s vehicle was impounded pending a search warrant and both suspects were arrested.

Cole, 28, of Jackson, was charged with drug distribution, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended, having drugs in a motor vehicle, failure to provide proof of registration and obstructed view.

Wicks, 26, of Manahawkin, was charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bail was set at $30,000 for Cole in addition to him having an outstanding warrant from Brick Township for $500, Pedersen said.

Cole was transported to the Ocean County Jail. Wicks was processed and released on a summons.