Dad Passed Out With Loaded Syringe, Pot-Smoking Parents Arrested: Toms River Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ —Toms River police have a message for parents: If you're planning to use drugs, don't do it in front of your kids.

Police arrested three parents in two separate incidents recently in which the parents were found to be using drugs in front of their children, Toms River Police spokesman Ralph Stocco said.

In the first incident, on Friday, Oct. 14, Toms River police responded to a 2:30 a.m. report of a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of the Crossroads Center shopping center at 1 Route 37 West, Stocco said.

The responding officers found a man, Mckay Greenwood, 26, of Sherman Avenue in Seaside Heights, passed out behind the wheel of his Toyota Tacoma, Stocco said. Greenwood's 3-year-old daughter was asleep in the vehicle with him, he said.

Greenwood had passed out with a loaded hypodermic syringe in his hand, and there were several empty waxfolds of heroin next to him, Stocco said.

Greenwood was charged with child endangerment and possession of controlled substances as well as drug paraphernalia, and he has since posted $50,000 bail and is awaiting a court date.

Child protective services responded to headquarters to initiate an investigation as well, Stocco said.

The second incident occurred Monday, Stocco said.

Officer Austin Pelka came upon a suspicious car in Skyview Park about 12:15 p.m. As Pelka drove by he observed Erica Richter, 32, of Barnegat, vomiting in the parking lot, and a small child standing in the front seat, Stocco said.

Pelka approached the woman and her companion, Richard Olivadotti, 39, of Maine Street in Toms River, and smelled the odor of burning marijuana, Stocco said.

During the subsequent investigation, Pelka found marijuana, suboxone, oxycodone, cyclobenzaprine, pipes and straws, Stocco said

Richter and Oliviadotti, who co-parent the 2-year-old boy, both were arrested and child protective services was contacted, he said.

While looking after the child at police headquarters an additional bag of marijuana was located in his diaper, Stocco said.

Both Olivadotti and Richter were charged with child endangerment, possession of controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia, he said.

Olivadotti has posted the $50,000 bail that was set, but Richter remains at the Ocean County Jail, Toms River, in lieu of $50,000 bail, he said.

Photos courtesy of Toms River Police Department; main image via Shutterstock