Brick PD Street Crimes Unit Charges 8 in Latest Illicit Drug Crackdown

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

The Brick police department’s Street Crimes Unit has made another series of proactive busts, ending the month of October with a crackdown on illegal drug activity in numerous public places around the township.

There were several separate incidents, as reported by police:

• On Monday, Oct. 18 at 11 p.m., SCU detectives observed suspicious activity at the Exxon on Drum Point Road. The detectives stopped Desiree DeMartino, 30, of Point Pleasant, for motor vehicle infractions and an investigation led to the discovery of heroin, cocaine, crack and prescription pills. DeMartino was charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession of heroin, crack, cocaine, methadone, alprazolam (Xanax), a hypodermic syringe, and drug paraphernalia. The charges were issued on a warrant and DeMartin was lodged in Ocean County Jail.
• On Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 20, at 5:30 p.m., detectives observed a drug transaction and stopped a man identified as Jamell White, 27, of Brick. White was charged with distribution of crack, possession of crack and paraphernalia. He was released on a summons.
• On Friday, Oct. 22, at 11:30 a.m., detectives observed Albert Palmieri III, 36, of Toms River, shoplifting at the Wawa located at 116 Brick Boulevard. The stop and arrest of Palmieri led to further investigation of Palmieri’s cohorts, Hector Hernandez, 33, of Seaside Heights, and Melissa Scheller, 38, of Toms River. The investigation turned up heroin and paraphernalia, according to police.Palmieri was charged with distribution of heroin, possession of heroin and paraphernalia, and shoplifting. Hernandez was charged with distribution of heroin, possession of heroin and paraphernalia. Their charges were issued on a warrant and both suspects were lodged in Ocean County Jail. Scheller was charged with possession of heroin and paraphernalia, and released on a summons.