Handcuffs (Shorebeat File Photo/ banspy/ Flickr)
A group of four local men, three of whom were from Toms River, were arrested after they are alleged to have openly discussed drug activity within earshot of Brick police officers.
Last Thursday, detectives from the Brick police department’s Street Crimes Unit were conducting surveillance around the Walmart store on Route 88 when they “overheard four subjects talking about their engagement in drug activity,” said Sgt. Jim Kelly.
The detectives made contact with the suspects, and in the mean time, K9 Officer Ray LaPoint responded with his K9 partner Rebel. An exterior sniff of the suspects’ vehicles “resulted in positive indications for the presence of controlled dangerous substances,” Kelly said.
The ensuring search yielded crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia, according to police. As a result of the search:
Frank Tomasulo, 58, of Toms River, was charged with possession of crack, possession of paraphernalia and loitering to obtain or distribute a controlled dangerous substance on a warrant, and he was lodged in Ocean County Jail.
Arnaldo Martinez, 50, of Jackson, was charged with possession of crack, possession of paraphernalia and loitering to obtain or distribute a controlled dangerous substance on a warrant, and he was lodged in Ocean County Jail.
Michael Britton, 35, of Toms River (Photo: Ocean County Jail)
Michael Britton, 35, of Toms River, was charged with possession of crack, possession of paraphernalia and loitering to obtain or distribute a controlled dangerous substance on a warrant, and he was lodged in Ocean County Jail.
Austin Kaiser, 43, of Toms River, was charged with possession of paraphernalia and loitering to obtain or distribute a controlled dangerous substance on a warrant, and he was lodged in Ocean County Jail.
A search of jail records Monday indicated only Britton remained in custody.
