Manchester Pair Arrested On Heroin Charges

(Matthew Morin, via Ocean County Corrections website)

Two Manchester men are facing heroin charges after their car was stopped because they were exhibiting suspicious behavior in Manchester last week, police said.

Matthew Morin, 19, and Anthony Moriarty, 23, were arrested Nov. 4 in the early evening after their behavior in the parking lot of a Route 571 business caught the attention of the Manchester Township Police Department’s Narcotics Enforcement Team, Capt. Todd Malland said.

Narcotics officers conducted surveillance on the pair, who were operating a 2004 Chevrolet Impala, and later stopped their vehicle in Toms River at the intersection of Route 70 and Route 9, he said. Both Morin, the driver, and Moriarty exhibited signs of heroin use, Malland said.

Moriarty was asked to get out of the car, and as he did so, a quantity of heroin fell out of his pant leg onto the ground, Malland said. Further investigation led to the recovery of additional quantities of heroin found concealed in the trunk of the car, along with several hypodermic needles, he said.

Both were charged with possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia, and Morin additionally was charged with possession of hypodermic needles, Malland said.

Both were taken to Manchester Police Headquarters, where Moriarty was released on a summons. Morin was later taken to the Ocean County Jail, where he is being held in lieu of $7,500 bail, according to jail records.

Also assisting with this investigation was Ocean County Sheriff’s K-9 Officer James Kohout, Malland said.