OCEAN TOWNSHIP — Police working under the state’s “Cops in Shops” initiative have arrested and charged four teens with attempting to purchase alcohol while under the legal age.
On Feb. 5, Ocean Township police officers Raheem Carter and Michael Melody were assigned to plainclothes patrol as part of the “Cops in Shops” program.
While on patrol, the officers observed several underage individuals purchase alcohol at a township liquor store. After the suspects drove away from the liquor store, Carter and Melody initiated a traffic stop, according to police reports.
One of the vehicle occupants, Lawrence Heads, 19, of West Long Branch, was charged with possession of a false government document (a driver’s license), purchasing alcohol under the legal age and misrepresenting his age to purchase alcohol.
The other occupants in the car were identified as Eric Velosi, 18, of Egg Harbor, Devin Fielding, 19, of Sussex, and Jake Costello, 18, of Sussex. These three individuals were charged with having another purchase alcohol for them while being under the legal age, according to reports.
All four occupants of the car were arrested and transported to the Ocean Township Police Department for processing.
The four subjects were later released on a summons pending an upcoming court date in Ocean Township Municipal Court.