LONG BRANCH — A city physician and three other men are facing narcotics charges after a monthlong investigation was concluded last week.
Dr. August Wreiole, 55, of Little Silver, was arrested on Oct. 25 and charged with possession of cocaine and released on a summons, according to police reports.
The Morris Avenue office of Wreiole was investigated by the Criminal Investigation and Community Response Units of the city police department as part of a narcotics investigation, according to Detective Lt. Bruce Johantgen.
Three targets of the investigation were seen exiting the office and were confronted by officers, according to Johantgen, who said the subjects threw illegal drugs, packaging material and measuring devices over a fence and fled the scene in a vehicle.
Officers pursued the fleeing vehicle and located the suspects two blocks away. .
Eduardo Gonzalez, 26, of Prospect Street; Jose A. Concepcion, 25, of Seventh Avenue; and Miguel A. Serrano, 21, of Chelsea Avenue, were arrested and are facing charges of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute over a half-ounce of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute within a school zone, and possession of marijuana.
Gonzalez was additionally charged with the distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.
They were transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, on $20,000 bail.
As a result of the investigation, authorities believe that Wreiole purchased cocaine from the three accused in the past; one of the subjects involved was a patient of Wreiole’s. The physician treated the man after normal business hours, Johantgen said.
Wreiole also allegedly allowed the subjects to use his office to weigh and package cocaine, according to police reports.