By clare MARie celano
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — K-9 police officer Max has done it again. With the help and guidance of his partner, Freehold Borough Police Officer Michael Sweetman, the duo tracked a suspect and located what police Capt. Michael DiAiso said appeared to be 8 grams of cocaine.
According to DiAiso, several subjects were observed on the corner of Ford and Lloyd streets at about 2:55 p.m. Sept. 24. Also observed in the vicinity were numerous beer bottles.
According to police, when the officer approached one of the subjects the man attempted to leave the area. Another subject, Lavaris Shuler, 19, of the borough, was observed carrying a plastic bag that appeared to have beer bottles in it.
DiAiso said an officer attempted to stop Shuler as he was trying to leave the area. When the subject dropped the bag and continued to flee, the officer chased the suspect.
DiAiso said officers chased Shuler along McDermott and Ford streets, then down Center Street, where he was finally found in the rear yard of 100 Center Street. The captain said that during his flight, Shuler dropped two plastic bags containing a substance that appeared to be cocaine.
Sweetman and K-9 officer Max were called and tracked the subject’s flight beginning at the point where he dropped the beer bottles. While tracking Shuler, Max found the plastic bags containing 8 grams of the substance believed to be cocaine.
Shuler was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) believed to be cocaine, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS within 500 feet of a park, resisting arrest, obstruction of the administration of the law and underage possession of alcohol. Bail was set at $30,000, which Shuler posted.
Patrolman Sean Healey was the investigating officer. Sgt. Tim Jablonski, Sgt. Mark Wodell and patrolmen Shaun Hobbs and William Bismark were involved in the pursuit and capture of Shuler.