Brick PD’s Street Crimes Unit Makes 11 Arrests After Foiling Drug Deals

Handcuffs (Shorebeat File Photo/ banspy/ Flickr)

The Brick Township Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit has been cracking down on hand-to-hand drug deals in public places in recent weeks, with the unit reporting 11 arrests after detectives allegedly witnessed a number of incidents.

The outcome of the investigations, as described by the department, appear below.

Tuesday, May 24

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Street Crimes Unit (SCU) detectives observed two known subjects leaving the parking lot of the township’s Walmart store, one of whom had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, the statement from police said. After “observing the vehicle speed through a red light as they left the area,” the detectives called for an officer on patrol to stop the vehicle, and K9 Officer Scott Smith conducted a motor vehicle stop.

A K9 sniff “indicated contraband in the vehicle,” according to police, and an ensuing search revealed wax folds used to package heroin. The two occupants of the vehicle, Devin Gadson Jr., 30, of Lakewood, and Karon Reid, 32, of Brick, were placed under arrest and charged with possession of heroin and paraphernalia. Gadson, the driver, was also charged with drug possession in a motor vehicle, contempt of court, and a motor vehicle violation. Both subjects were released on summonses.

Thursday, May 26

According to police, SCU detectives observed a hand-to-hand transaction in the parking lot of Walmart on Rt. 88 at about 7 p.m. The two individuals involved in the transaction were identified as Charles Crane, 66, of Point Pleasant, and Jacquelin Kelly, 42, of Brick. Both were arrested. Crane was charged with possession of heroin, and Kelly was charged with possession and distribution of heroin. Both subjects were released on a summons.

Wednesday, June 1

SCU detectives conducted a motor vehicle stop on a vehicle that was “driving erratically, swerving, coming close to causing collisions and driving dangerously,” the report said. An investigation on the motor vehicle stop resulted in the driver, Dawn Lamb, 56, of Lakewood, being arrested and charged with DWI, among several other related motor vehicle offenses. The incident took place at about 7 p.m.

Wednesday, June 8

While conducting surveillance in the parking lot of Walmart on Rt. 88 at about 6 p.m., SCU detectives “developed suspicion involving three subjects in a vehicle,” the statement said. With the help of patrol officers and K9 Officer Scott Smith, a motor vehicle stop was conducted and a K9 sniff by Echo “indicated contraband in the vehicle.” The ensuing search revealed methamphetamine, syringes, other paraphernalia and methadone.

The driver, identified as Debra Deitrich, 49, of Turnersville, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, paraphernalia, possession of drugs in a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle violations. She was released on a summons.

A passenger, James Forson Jr., 46, of Pennsville, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, Subutex, paraphernalia, and being under the influence. Forson’s charges were placed on a warrant and he was lodged in Ocean County Jail. The other passenger, Jason Deitrich, 46, of Turnersville, was charged with possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia, and with being under the influence of a controlled substance. He was charged on a warrant and lodged in Ocean County Jail.

Later the same night, at about 10:30 p.m., SCU detectives stopped a vehicle for traffic violations. K9 Officer Smith and his partner Echo assisted, and a sniff indicated contraband inside the vehicle, the statement said. The ensuing search revealed a plastic bag with a quantity of crack, according to police. Terry Ravonn, 34, of South Toms River, was charged with possession of crack and paraphernalia. He was released on a summons.

Thursday, June 9

Detectives from the SCU had located a wanted subject, identified as Thomas Girone, 33, of Brick, in his garage. The man at first refused to exit the garage, police said, but the detectives were able convince him to open the garage door and exit. Detectives “observed drug paraphernalia in plain view” and a search was conducted, which revealed crack, over 100 wax folds of packaged heroin, crack pipes, syringes, a digital scale, stamp kits, and hundreds of empty wax folds, “all indicating an operation of packaging and distribution,” the report said.

Girone was charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of crack, possession of heroin, possession of paraphernalia, unlawful disposition of a controlled substance, being under the influence of a controlled substance and obstruction of justice. He was also cited with four active warrants out for his arrest that pre-dated the latest alleged offense. Girone was subsequently lodged in Ocean County Jail.