Suspected Heroin Dealer Charged in Death of Brick Man

Timothy Baker

A local man already incarcerated on charges of dealing drugs is facing manslaughter charges in the drug-induced death of a Brick man.

Timothy Baker, 26, of Jackson, allegedly sold.a deadly dose of drugs to Thomas Palazzolo, 26, of Brick. Palazzolo died Jan. 27, after attempts by police to revive him failed after a 911 call was placed, reporting him unresponsive on his bedroom floor.

Baker has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since Jan. 31 on prior drug charges.

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After Palazzolo was found to have died, officers on scene, observing signs of a drug overdose, immediately, per the Prosecutor’s directive, contacted the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Unit and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Unit to respond, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the prosecutor’s office. The ensuing intensive investigation would ultimately lead back to Baker and link him to Palazzolo’s overdose death. 

An autopsy by the Ocean County Medical Examiner would confirm that Palazzolo’s death was drug induced, said Della Fave.

Detective Brian Farnkopf of Brick Township Police Department and OCPO Major Crimes Unit Detective John Carroll signed criminal complaints against Baker for strict liability drug induced death, possession of heroin, possession with the intent to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin.