Meth Raid Turns Up Explosive Device, Sparks Evacuation In Brick; Toms River Man Arrested: Police

BRICK, NJ — A homemade explosive device triggered an evacuation in Brick Wednesday as law enforcement executed search warrants at homes in both Brick and Toms River owned by a man who was under investigation investigation for methamphetamine distribution, police said Friday.

Stephen Henry, 63, of Cozy Way, Toms River, was the primary target of an investigation into methamphetamine distribution throughout Ocean County, Brick Sgt. Neal Pedersen said. Henry was arrested Wednesday after search warrants were executed at his Toms River home and at his home on Pinecroft Drive in Brick, by members of the Brick Police Drug Enforcement Unit, Selective Enforcement Team, Special Emergency Response Team (SERT), in conjunction with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Group, Pedersen said. The warrants were the result of several months of investigation, he said.

As a result of the searches, detectives and officers seized approximately 200 grams/6 ounces of methamphetamine packaged for distribution, as well as $237 in cash believed to be the proceeds of CDS distribution, Pedersen said.

The search at the Brick residence turned up a small homemade explosive device in the garage, he said, and members from the New Jersey State Police Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit were called to the residence and neighboring residents had to be evacuated while those officers investigated it, Pedersen said.

The explosive device was rendered inoperable and surrounding area residents returned to their homes a short time later, Pedersen said. No injuries were reported, he said.

Henry was charged with the following related to the warrant at the Brick residence, Pedersen said:

• Third-degree possession of methamphetamine
• First-degree possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute greater than 5 ounces
• Fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon
• Third-degree possession of a destructive device
• Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Pedersen said the following charges resulted from the warrant execution at Toms River residence:

Third-degree possession of methamphetamine

Second-degree possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute greater than a half-ounce but less than 5 ounces

Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Assisting in the investigation were members from the Toms River Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit.

Henry is being held at the Ocean County Jail in Toms River in lieu of $450,000, no 10 percent option, set by Superior Court Judge Wendel E. Daniels.

Stephen Henry photo via Ocean County Corrections Department; handcuffs image via Shutterstock