Brick Street Crimes Unit Arrests 9 On Drug Charges

BRICK, NJ — The Brick Township Police Department's Street Crimes Unit arrested nine people over the last two weeks of October, most on drug charges.

The following information was provided by Brick Sgt. Jim Kelly.

About 11 p.m. on Oct. 18, detectives saw suspicious activity at the Exxon on Drum Point Road. Desiree DeMartino, 30, of Point Pleasant, was pulled over for motor vehicle infractions and the investigation led to the discovery of heroin, cocaine, crack and prescription pills, Kelly said. DeMartino was charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession of heroin, crack, cocaine, methadone, alprazolam, a hypodermic syringe, and drug paraphernalia. She was taken to the Ocean County Jail on a warrant but later released pending trial.

About 7 p.m. on Oct. 19, detectives pulled over a vehicle after observing motor vehicle infractions and suspicious activity in the Walgreens parking lot on Route 88. The stop led to the discovery of heroin. The driver, Anthony Calabrese, 37, of Jackson, was charged with possession of heroin and paraphernalia, along with motor vehicle summonses. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail on a warrant on the drug charges but later released pending trial. His passengers, Jason Lasry, 42, of Metuchen, and Ryan Chapman, 40, of Howell, were charged with possession of heroin and paraphernalia. Lasry was released on a summons. Chapman remains in the Ocean County Jail, where he was taken on a warrant. Authorities found Chapman had crack on him when he arrived at the jail.

About 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 20, detectives saw a drug transaction and stopped Jamell White, 27, of Brick. He was charged with distribution of crack, possession of crack and paraphernalia and released on a summons.

About 11:30 a.m. Oct 22, detectives saw Albert Palmieri III, 36, of Toms River, shoplifting at the Wawa located at 116 Brick Blvd. The stop and arrest of Palmieri led to investigation of two people who were with him: Hector Hernandez, 33, of Seaside Heights, and Melissa Scheller, 38, of Toms River. That investigation turned up heroin and paraphernalia. Palmieri was charged with distribution of heroin, possession of heroin and paraphernalia, and shoplifting. Hernandez was charged with distribution of heroin, possession of heroin and paraphernalia. Palmieri and Hernandez were arrested on warrants and taken to the Ocean County Jail; Palmieri was released pending trial but Hernandez remains in jail. Scheller was charged with possession of heroin and paraphernalia, and released on a summons.

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