County Juvenile Justice Officer Charged With Selling Heroin In Walgreens Parking Lot:Cops

by Patricia A. Miller

Authorities arrested an Ocean County juvenile justice officer on March 22 and charged her with possession and distribution of heroin in the parking lot of Walgreens on Route 9, Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele said.

Erica Kotelnicki, 35, Korman Road, had been the focus of a months-long investigation by detectives from the Berkeley Township police department and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Special Operations Group, the chief said.

Kotelnicki had a quantity of heroin prepared for immediate distribution at the time of her arrest, DiMichele said.

Detectives also obtained two search warrants - one for her home and one for her vehicle. Authorities seized heroin, cocaine, cash and digital scales, the chief said.

Kotelnicki was charged with possession of heroin, possession of cocaine, distribution of heroin, possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, distribute of heroin with 1,000 feet of a school zone. Superior Court Judge Rochelle Gizinski set her bail at $125,000, with no ten percent option, DiMichele said.

Kotelnicki was taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River, she said.

"Although this investigation is ongoing, it is not believed that Kotelnicki, who was not working at the time of her arrest, distributed narcotics while performing her job," DiMichele said.

More arrests and charges are expected as evidence is processed, she said.

"This arrest was again the result of concerned citizens who contacted police reporting suspicious activity," DiMichele said. "This successful investigation was again the result of a joint cooperative effort between county and local agencies."

Berkeley residents are reminded that they can contact the Berkeley Police TIP Line at 732-341-1132 x611. Tips can be anonymous.