Toms River Man Charged With Causing Fentanyl-Induced Death Of Bayville Man

A Toms River man has been charged with supplying the drugs that killed a Bayville man back in August, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said.

Detectives from the Prosecutor's Office and Toms River police arrested Gregory Koc, 34, Pine Street on Tuesday for providing Fentanyl in the drug-induced death of Kenneth Cook, 28, Bayville, on Aug. 3, he said.

Police found Cook unresponsive on the floor of a restroom in the K-Mart in Toms River. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:04 p.m.

Police spotted signs of a drug overdose and contacted the Prosecutor's Office's Major Crimes Unit and the Ocean County Sheriff's Criminal Investigations Unit. The intensive investigation ultimately led back to Koc.

Coronato has implemented a number of initiatives since he took over in 2013.

“In the face of all these measures, the deaths continue at an alarming rate," he said. "This year the overdose death toll to date stands at a horrific 180 lost to the opioid crisis in Ocean County."

Koc was charged with strict liability for drug-induced death, manslaughter, distribution of Fentanyl, possession of Fentanyl, and possession of Fentanyl with intent to distribute. Ocean County Superior Court Judge Wendel Daniels set his bail at $350,000 cash.

Ocean County is in the middle of a "Synthetic Storm," from dealers who sell deadly doses laced with powerful synthetic opiates, Coronato said.

"Law Enforcement cannot address this evil alone, he said. "We implore everyone and anyone to join in our efforts. Please join us in working to stop the deaths and to make Ocean County a "No Dealer Zone".

Special Operations Group of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the Toms River Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department all contributed to the investigation culminating Koc's arrest, he said.

Image: Ocean County Prosecutor's Office