Missing Brake Light Leads To Drug Charges For Duo In Lakehurst: Police

LAKEHURST, NJ — A Toms River man and a Berkeley Township woman are facing multiple drug charges after heroin and other items were found in an SUV they were in during a motor vehicle stop, Lakehurst Police Chief Eric Higgins said.

Franklin Phillips, 60, Toms River and Darlene Ott, 48, of Bayville were arrested Sunday evening after Officer Jason Guide pulled over the 1999 Ford Explorer that Ott was driving because one of the brake lights was out, Higgins said.

The subsequent investigation revealed Ott was under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, Higgins said.

A search of the Explorer turned up "a quantity" of heroin, the drug Alprazolam, hypodermic needles loaded with heroin, and drug paraphernalia, Higgins said.

Ott was charged with possession of heroin, being under the influence of CDS, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving on a suspended license, maintenance of lamps, and possession of CDS in a motor vehicle and taken to the Ocean County Jail, Higgins said, where she remained Monday.

Phillips was charged with possession of heroin, possession of hypodermic needles, and possession of Alprazolam. He was released on a summons pending a court date, Higgins said.

Darlene Ott photo via Ocean County Corrections Department