OCPO: MANCHESTER MAN INDICTED FOR STRICT LIABILITY DRUG INDUCED DEATH

Press release from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office:

BHuntenburg

Oct 27, 2021

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on October 27, 2021, Dandre Tubbs, 33, of Manchester, was indicted by a Grand Jury sitting in Ocean County on a charge Strict Liability Drug Induced Death in violation of  N.J.S.A. 2C:35-9a, relative to the death of a 35 year-old male in Manchester on August 16, 2021.  Tubbs was also indicted on charges of Distribution of Heroin/Fentanyl in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3); Possession of Heroin/Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5a(1) and 2C:35-5b(3); three counts of Possession of Heroin/Fentanyl in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); and Possession of Alprazolam in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1).

On August 16, 2021, Officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to a residence for a report of an unresponsive 35 year-old male. Upon arrival, the Officers discovered that the male was already deceased from an apparent drug overdose.

A subsequent investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and Manchester Township Police Department Detective Bureau determined that Tubbs supplied heroin and fentanyl to the victim on August 15, 2021.  On August 19, 2021, Tubbs was arrested and charged with three counts of Distribution of Heroin in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3); two counts of Possession of Heroin in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Possession of Alprazolam in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-6a; and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2a.

Further investigation and toxicology analysis recently received by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the presence of heroin and fentanyl in the victim’s system.  Based upon this toxicology analysis, the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the heroin and fentanyl found in the victim’s system were the cause of his death.  As a consequence, Tubbs was charged with Strict Liability Drug Induced Death.

Tubbs has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since his arrest on August 19, 2021.

Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Kristin Pressman who is handling the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Manchester Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Manchester Township Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team, Manchester Township Police Department K-9 Unit, Manchester Township Police Department Patrol Division,  Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, for their combined and collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation.

The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.  R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).

This press release was produced by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. The views expressed here are the author’s own.