Drug Charges For Manahawkin Woman After Traffic Stop: Police

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — A Manahawkin woman was charged in a drug case after a late-night vehicle stop by the Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, according to police.

Police said the stop happened Thursday, May 7, 2026, at about 11 p.m. near Lighthouse Drive and Anchor Avenue in Manahawkin. The vehicle was operated by 48-year-old Renee Roccia of Manahawkin, according to police.

During the stop, Detective Zach Wiatrowski developed reasonable suspicion that Roccia was possessing a controlled dangerous substance inside the vehicle and or on her person, according to police. Police said Wiatrowski then deployed his narcotic K-9 partner, Venus, to conduct an exterior sniff of the vehicle. According to police, K-9 Venus gave a positive indication for the presence of narcotics odor coming from within the vehicle.

Police said the vehicle was seized pending the application of a court authorized search warrant. Roccia was then arrested on a charge of wandering to obtain a controlled dangerous substance, according to police. Police said a search incident to arrest revealed Roccia was in possession of a quantity of crack/cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

Police said Roccia was initially charged with possession of crack/cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to turn over a controlled dangerous substance to police, and wandering or prowling to obtain or sell controlled dangerous substances. After being processed at Stafford Township Police Department, she was released on a summons with a future court date at Ocean County Superior Court, according to police.

On Friday, May 8, 2026, at about 4 p.m., the Drug Enforcement Unit applied for and was granted a court authorized search warrant for the vehicle, according to police. Police said the unit executed the warrant and recovered a quantity of suspected crack/cocaine and clonazepam.

According to police, Roccia later turned herself in and was charged with possession of crack/cocaine and two counts of possession of clonazepam. After she was processed at Stafford Township Police Department, police said she was again released on a summons with a future court date at Ocean County Superior Court.