Police: Lakehurst Heroin Dealer, 5 Others Bust Into Cop's House, Steal Gun, Bullet-Proof Vest

Two Lakehurst men and a South Toms River man are among six people arrested on drug charges and the theft of a Manchester police officer’s gun and bulletproof vest, according to Lakehurst police.

Gerard Pasqualini, 25, and Francis J. Juliano, 50, both of Lakehurst; Adam Sanchez, 22, of South Toms River; and Jeffrey J. Jones, 51, and Francis M. Jones, 53, both of Jackson, are facing mutliple drug charges as well as the theft charges in the case, according to a news release from Lakehurst Chief Eric S. Higgins.

Higgins said the group was arrested after a four-day investigation into a break-in at the home of an off-duty Manchester Township police officer who lives in Lakehurst. During that break-in, the officer’s police-issued firearm, a police radio and other equipment including the officer’s bulletproof vest were taken.

As a result of information learned by Lakehurst Police Officer Joseph DePasquale, Lakehurst and Manchester police executed a no-knock search warrant at the Travel Inn & Suites Motel (formerly the Mike O’Neal Motel) with the assistance of the Ocean County Regional Swat Team North, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit, and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Officer Special Operations Group, Higgins said.

Inside one of the motel rooms they found a stolen police Remington 870 shotgun and various items belonging to the Manchester Police Department. There was also heroin, suboxone, marijuana, and paraphernalia seized during the investigation, along with cash drug proceeds and one vehicle seized for forfeiture, Higgins said.

Leads were then followed that took the officers from Lakehurst, Manchester, and Special Operations Group into neighboring towns, where additional proceeds were recovered along with stolen items from other towns in both Ocean and Monmouth counties, he said.

The investigation is continuing and more arrests are possible, he said.

Pasqualini was charged with heroin possession; possession of heroin with intent to distribute; unlawful possession of a weapon, a gun; receiving stolen property; possession of hypodermic needles, and possession of marijuana. His bail was set at $75,000, no 10 percent, by Judge Damian Murray.

Juliano was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, suboxone; possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. There also was an outstanding criminal michief warrant for Juliano from Berkeley, Higgins said. Murray set his bail at $2,500, no 10 percent.

Sanchez was charged with two counts of third-degree burglary; unlawful possession of a weapon, a gun; tampering with evidence, and two counts of theft from an auto. His bail was set at $40,000, no 10 percent option.

Jeffrey Jones was charged with heroin possession; possession of heroin with intent to distribute; unlawful possession of a weapon, a gun, and receiving stolen property. His bail was set at $75,000 no 10 percent.

Francis Jones was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, a gun; receiving stolen property and theft, and his bail was set at $30,000, no 10 percent option.

In addition Leigha E. Marsh, 22, of Union, was arrested and charged with marijuana possession. She received a summons and was released.