Manalapan Man Sold Cocaine In Seaside Heights, Police Say

MANALAPAN, NJ — A Manalapan man was arrested last week and charged with distributing cocaine in Seaside Heights, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday.

Quran Thomas, 40, of Manalapan was part of a trio of men arrested March 3 that included Bryan Burgos, 34, of Lakewood, and Akira Randle, 22, of Seaside Heights.

They were nabbed by police as they tried to leave a hotel room in Seaside Heights that had been identified as being used to store and distribute cocaine, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.

The arrests follow a two-month cooperative investigation into the distribution of cocaine in the Seaside Heights area by the Narcotics Strike Force and Seaside Heights detectives that identified a hotel room being used for the activities.

When police raided the hotel room, they found 45 grams of crack cocaine, 20 folds of heroin, marijuana, and $1,600 in cash.

Thomas was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; possession of cocaine; possession of heroin, and possession of marijuana. He was released pending a future court date.

Burgos was charged with possession of more than a half-ounce of cocaine with intent to distribute; possession of cocaine; possession of heroin, and possession of marijuana. He is being held in the Ocean County Jail on unrelated pending matters.

Randle was charged with possession of more than a half-ounce of cocaine with intent to distribute; possession of cocaine; possession of heroin; and possession of marijuana. Randle was released pending a future court date.