Pleasure Zone, Brick, NJ (Credit: Google Maps)
A string of arrests outside the Pleasure Zone adult bookstore on Chambers Bridge Road includes offenses for lewdness and drug possession over the course of about two weeks.
The first arrest took place Jan. 28, when Ptl. Cody Oliverio noticed an occupied vehicle in the rear parking lot around 11:15 p.m, parked near the back entrance of the establishment. Police allege that upon approaching the vehicle Oliverio noticed the driver, identified as John Shipley, 37, of Point Pleasant, with his pants down and his genitalia exposed. Shipley was subsequently charged with lewdness and released on a summons.
On Monday, Feb. 10, Ptl. Joseph Riccio observed a suspicious occupied vehicle parked in the rear parking lot, Sgt. Jim Kelly said. With the assistance of K9 Officer Scott Smith and his partner Echo, an investigation at the scene revealed several items of drug paraphernalia and controlled dangerous substances, according to Kelly. The driver, Michael Gachineiro, 42, of Brick, was allegedly found in possession of methamphetamine, a metal smoking pipe with methamphetamine residue and marijuana. The passenger, identified as Christopher McGuckin, 27, of Holmdel, was found to have marijuana in his possession.
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Gachineiro was subsequently charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of paraphernalia. He was lodged in Ocean County Jail.
McGuckin was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of paraphernalia and was subsequently released on a summons.
Another arrest occurred Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 7:08pm, when Street Crimes Unit detectives investigated a suspicious male. After interacting with the man for less than one minute, police said, the man offered one of the detectives a marijuana cigarette. He was then arrested and identified as Luis Marrero, 59, of Brick. He was charged with the possession of a controlled dangerous substance and released on a summons.
Finally, on Feb. 13 at 10:23 p.m., Riccio noticed an occupied vehicle parked in the rear parking lot. Upon approaching the vehicle he allegedly saw the driver, Mario Boemio, 43, of Toms River, sitting in the driver’s seat with his genitalia exposed, masturbating, while watching a pornographic video on his cell phone, Kelly said.
Boemio was placed under arrest and charged with lewdness. He was released on a summons.
The Pleasure Zone store has been a source of contention in Brick for years, especially given its location across the street from a school. In the 1990s, the township attempted to ban adult bookstores in school zones, but the ordinance was overturned by the courts, with a finding of unconstitutionality.
In May 2019, police said the bookstore’s parking lot was a “hotbed” of illegal activity.
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