Heroin Sale at Brunswick Square Mall, East Brunswick Police Say

East Brunswick, NJ - East Brunswick police arrested two people after they witnessed a heroin sale take place in the parking lot of the Brunswick Square Mall, police said. This is not the first drug incident at that mall: In April of this year, police said they found cocaine inside a car that had been left running in the parking lot of the Brunswick Square Mall.

The incident happened at approximately 6:25 p.m. on Thursday, July 28 in the parking lot of the popular shopping mall. Members of the East Brunswick Police Anti-Crime Unit said they observed a hand-to-hand drug transaction occur between a woman and a man, who was seated in a motor vehicle.

Police stopped the woman as she walked away from the car, and Judith Spear of Old Bridge was arrested and charged with possession of heroin. The man, later identified as Shabazz Muhammad of Somerset, fled the scene in a white 2005 Acura after being approached by members of the Anti-Crime Unit. Police chased his car up Rt. 18 north, but police decided at Cindy Way that it was too dangerous to keep up the pursuit, due to Muhammad’s erratic and reckless driving. Just moments later, Muhammad was involved in a hit-and-run accident on Old Bridge Turnpike at the intersection of Parker Street and he fled the scene towards Edgeboro Road. At that point, Muhammad got out of the Acura and was running on foot. Patrolman John Sisolak saw him near Brick Plant Road and he was taken into custody without incident.

Spear was charged with possession of heroin, distribution, and distribution in a school zone. She was released pending court. Shabazz Muhammad was also charged with possession and the two distribution charges, as well as eluding and aggravated assault. Muhammad was transported to MCACC. Bail was set at $35,000 with no 10% option.

Patch file photo of the Brunswick Square Mall