Trio Had Crack, Prescription Drugs, Guns In Evergreen Woods: Brick Police

(Photos via Ocean County Corrections website)

BRICK, NJ -- Three men are facing drug and weapons charges after a monthlong investigation led to arrests Thursday, Brick Township police said.

The investigation, prompted by complaints from residents in the Evergreen Woods area, resulted in a search warrant being issued for a Belinda Court residence along with a Toyota Solara and a Chrysler 200, Sgt. Neal Pedersen said.

The search of the vehicles turned up crack cocaine, oxycodone and promethazine, which is also known as “Lean” or “Sizzurp” or “Purple Drank,” and two handguns, a 9mm and a .40-caliber, he said.

The two guns were believed to be the proceeds of burglaries to residences, Pedersen said.

Arrested were Jamie Crippen, 22; David Thompson, 21, of Yonkers, N.Y., and Michael Santiago, 22, from the Bronx, Pedersen said.

Crippen was charged with possession of a weapon, two counts of receiving stolen property, three counts of possession of CDS, and possession of CDS in a motor vehicle, Pedersen said. Thompson was charged with possession of a weapon, two counts of receiving stolen property and possession of CDS, he said, while Santiago was charged with possession of a weapon, possession of CDS, two counts of receiving stolen property, possession of CDS in motor vehicle and driving without a license.

The search was conducted by members of the Brick Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit along with assistance of the Howell Township Police Department Crime Suppression Unit, Pedersen said.

Bail for each man was set at $75,000, no 10 percent, by Municipal Court Judge Robert M. Lepore, and the three were taken to the Ocean County Jail, Toms River. Crippen and Santiago remain in the Ocean County Jail in lieu of bail, but Thompson has posted bail, according to jail records.