Alleged Gang Member Charged In Manchester Drug Distribution Bust: PD

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Manchester Township man and alleged member of the Crips street gang is facing drug and weapons charges after drugs and a loaded handgun were seized from his apartment, Manchester police said Wednesday.

Eugene A. Ayala Jr., 27, has been charged with possession of Percocet, second-degree certain persons not to possess a firearm, possession of hollow-point ammunition and possession of drug paraphernalia following an investigation into heroin distribution in northern Ocean County, Capt. Vincent Manco said.

Ayala is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Manco said the investigtion by detectives in the police department's Narcotics Enforcement Team identified an apartment in the Suncrest Village apartment complex on Route 37 as being used to store and distribute quantities of heroin.

A search of the apartment and Ayalya's vehicle on Tuesday turned up an unspecified amount of Percocent that Manco said had been obtained illegally; a fully loaded Glock handgun containing hollow-point ammunition, and drug paraphernalia consistent with drug distribution, Manco said.

Assisting with the execution of the search warrant were the Manchester Township Police Investigations Bureau, the Ocean County Regional SWAT team and members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Manco said.

Residents are reminded that drug-related tips can be reported to the Manchester Township Police Department anonymously at 732-657-6111 or online via the Department’s website.