Additional Drug Charges For Manahawkin Walmart Shoplifters: Police

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — Two Ocean County residents face additional drug charges after being charged with shoplifting at Manahawkin Walmart, Stafford police said.

On July 15 at about 6:45 p.m., Brittany Koppenjan, a 30-year-old Lacey resident, and Ryan Powell, a 36-year-old Seaside Heights resident, were seen shoplifting electronics by concealing them in bags, police said. After a short period of time, the two walked past checkout and headed into the parking lot, where they were met by members of Stafford Township Police Department's Drug Enforcement Unit, police said.

The two were arrested and searched, where they were found to be in possession of the stolen items as well as heroin, police said.

Koppenjan and Powell were processed and discovered to have multiple arrest warrants from the Ocean County Sheriff's Department and the Berkeley Township and Seaside Heights Municipal Courts, police said.

Koppenjan and Powell were both charged with shoplifting and possession of CDS - heroin. They were taken to Ocean County Jail pending future appearances in multiple jursidictions.

"Shoplifting and drug related offenses are related due to the fact that shoplifting leads to the black-market sales of stolen items, and in turn is used to buy, possess, and sell narcotics," Stafford police said.

Stafford police will not be releasing any more information about this incident.