FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – A man and a woman were arrested and charged on Jan. 23 after investigators wrapped up a month-long investigation into drug activity in the Freehold area, Freehold Township Police Chief Ernest Schriefer announced in a press release.
Police said a 46-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, both residents of an apartment in the Eagle Rock Apartments at Freehold (formerly Avalon), off Route 79, Freehold Township, were each charged with first degree maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) production facility, second degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, second degree possession of a firearm while maintaining a CDS manufacturing facility and third degree counts of possession of heroin, possession of cocaine and possession of methamphetamine.
The man and the woman are also each charged with third degree possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, fourth degree possession of marijuana, fourth degree possession of high capacity magazines and a disorderly persons offense for possession of drug paraphernalia, according to police.
The man was also charged with second degree certain persons not to possess firearms and fourth degree counts of obstruction of the administration of the law and providing false information to a law enforcement officer, according to police.
Both defendants were placed in the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township. A detention hearing is scheduled for Jan. 29 before state Superior Court Judge Paul X. Escandon, sitting in Freehold.
The two arrests were made at the conclusion of a month-long investigation conducted by the Freehold Township Police Department into drug distribution and manufacturing in the Freehold area, according to the press release.
Freehold Township police were assisted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Howell Police Department.
The investigation culminated with a search of a Bainbridge Way apartment. At that location, investigators seized approximately 125 grams of suspected powdered heroin, more than 100 grams of suspected powder cocaine, approximately 22 grams of suspected crack cocaine, 7 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine and nearly 1.5 pounds of suspected marijuana, according to police.
Various drug paraphernalia associated with illegal drug manufacturing was also found, including a drug press, a money counter, ink stamps and packaging material. Also recovered was a stolen .40 caliber handgun and four high-capacity magazines.
The investigation was headed up by Police Officer Sean Moody of the Freehold Township Police Department and Detective Christopher Guy of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Moody and Guy were assisted by police officers William Gallo, Christopher McCormack and Craig Sosnowski of the Freehold Township Police Department, according to the press release.