4 Charged In Manahawkin Drug Bust: Police

STAFFORD, NJ — A Stafford Township Police Department narcotics investigation ended Monday, April 6, with the arrest of four people and the execution of search warrants tied to a Manahawkin apartment and two individuals, according to police.

Police identified those arrested as Christopher Ising, 44, of South Main Street in Manahawkin, Kyle P. Pianetti, 34, of Briar Road in Lanoka Harbor, Donna L. Shaffery, 51, of South Main Street in Manahawkin, and Jaclyn C. Pease, 35, of Atlantic Street in Keyport. The investigation led to a residential search warrant at 240 South Main St. in the Cedar Run Apartment Complex in Manahawkin, along with person search warrants for Ising and Pianetti, according to the department.

Before those warrants were executed, police conducted a motor vehicle stop involving a vehicle operated by Pease and Pianetti at about 9 p.m. Monday. During that stop, police reported that Pease had an outstanding warrant from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department and Pianetti had three outstanding warrants from Stafford Township Municipal Court, Little Egg Harbor Municipal Court and Kearny Municipal Court. Police also reported that investigators developed reasonable suspicion that Pease and Pianetti were possessing a controlled dangerous substance inside the vehicle.

According to police, Detective Zach Wiatrowski deployed narcotic K-9 Venus for an exterior sniff of the vehicle. Police reported that Venus gave a positive indication for the presence of narcotics odor from within the vehicle, and the vehicle was seized pending a court-authorized search warrant.

Police said the apartment search at 240 South Main St. found Ising and Shaffery inside the residence in possession of crack/cocaine, controlled dangerous substance packaging material, drug paraphernalia and multiple rounds of ammunition.

Ising was charged with possession with intent to distribute crack/cocaine, possession of crack/cocaine, tampering or attempting to destroy physical evidence, possession of prohibited weapons, certain persons not to have ammunition, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Shaffery was charged with possession with intent to distribute crack/cocaine, possession of crack/cocaine, tampering or attempting to destroy physical evidence, possession of prohibited weapons, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Pease was initially charged with possession of crack/cocaine, possession of alprazolam, failure to turn over a controlled dangerous substance to police, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Tuesday, April 7, police said they obtained and executed a court-authorized search warrant for the vehicle and recovered quantities of suspected crack/cocaine and tramadol hydrochloride. After that search, police charged Pease and Pianetti with possession of crack/cocaine and possession of tramadol hydrochloride.

Police said Ising and Shaffery were released on summonses pending a future court date in Ocean County Superior Court. Pease and Pianetti were being held at Ocean County Jail awaiting detention hearings, and Pianetti was also held in lieu of the active warrants.