The Wawa store at 116 Brick Boulevard. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
Brick police officers are continuing their crackdown on drug use in the parking lot of a Wawa store on Brick Boulevard.
Just days after three people – including one person allegedly found shooting heroin before getting behind the wheel of his car – were arrested near the parking lot of the Wawa at 116 Brick Boulevard, four more have been arrested in the most recent detail by the police department’s Street Crimes Unit.
The most recent round of enforcement began Jan. 15, when three more people were arrested for drug offenses in and around the parking lot. That night, Sgt. Paul Catalina and his K9 partner, Duke, responded to the location of the stop to assist SCU detectives with a traffic stop. An investigation at the scene resulted in the discovery of quantities of controlled dangerous substances and paraphernalia, police said. All three occupants of the vehicle were arrested:
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- The driver, Kyle Fisher, 30, of Manchester, was charged with possession of heroin, hypodermic syringes and drug paraphernalia, in addition to several motor vehicle summonses.
- Jordan Scott, 28, of Barnegat, was charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of heroin, hypodermic syringes, drug paraphernalia, tampering with evidence, and throwing debris from a motor vehicle.
- William Barbato, 42, of Howell, was charged with possession of heroin, hypodermic syringes and drug paraphernalia
All three subjects were processed and released on a summons.
The next arrest came Tuesday, Jan. 26, when SCU detectives observed a vehicle in the parking lot in the area to the rear of Wawa, said Sgt. Jim Kelly.
The vehicle was occupied by a female driver who was later identified as Alba Lekaj, 23, of Beachwood, Kelly said.
“Detectives observed Lekaj snorting a bag of what they suspected to be a controlled dangerous substance,” said Kelly.
An investigation at the scene uncovered torn wax folds of heroin inside the vehicle, a statement from police said. Lekaj was placed under arrest for possession of heroin and a hypodermic syringe. She was processed and released on a summons charging her with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, paraphernalia, a hypodermic syringe, failure to turn over a controlled dangerous substance to police, and being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, an addition to motor vehicle summonses.
“The Brick Township Police Department remains committed to being proactive in the fight against criminal drug activity and any behavior that would otherwise disrupt the quality of life of our citizens and of those who visit our town,” the statement said.
