Father, Son Arrested In Heroin Bust After Lacey Motor Vehicle Stop: Cops

by Patricia A. Miller

It wasn't your typical motor vehicle stop.

Members of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office's Special Operations Group and Lacey police stopped three men - including a father and son team - and found 550 individual doses of heroin, a quantity of cocaine and $1,200 in cash in the car they were riding in, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office spokesman Al Della Fave said.

Authorities stopped the 2005 Ford Taurus at 6:30 p.m. on March 28 at the intersection of Bay Way and Maple Road in Lanoka Harbor, Della Fave said.

They charged Michael A. Aranco, 57, 826 Hazelton Avenue, with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and resisting arrest. Aranco struggled with officers and refused to get out of the car. Ocean County Superior Court Judge Wendel E. Daniels set his bail at $75,000 cash, Della Fave said.

Also charged was Aranco's son, Michael A. Aranco II, same address. He was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine. His bail was set at $50,000, with no ten percent option.

Nicholas M. Picone, 35, Whitcomb Road, Forked River, a third man in the car, was charged charged with possession on heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine. His bail was also set at $50,000.

"This is a prime example of what can be achieved when local and county law enforcement join forces to combat the distribution of drugs in Ocean County," said Capt. Jack Sramaty, commander of the Special Operations Group.