Man Flushed 500 Heroin Doses Down Toilet Near Bay Head School

BAY HEAD – A New Jersey man flushed about 500 doses of heroin down a toilet near a local elementary school, prosecutors revealed on Monday.

Darryl Merritt, 30, of Neptune was found guilty of possession of more than a half-ounce of heroin with the intent to distribute among other drug charges, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.

Merritt is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending his sentencing.

The incident happened during an investigation into the distribution of heroin and cocaine out of a rented house near the Bay Head Elementary School, according to the OCPO.

Detectives from the Ocean County Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit ultimately executed a no-knock search warrant on the Bay Head residence on March 20, 2017, according to the OCPO.

During the execution of the warrant, SWAT officers observed Merritt leaving the bathroom where he had attempted to destroy 11 bricks of heroin by flushing them down the toilet, according to the OCPO.

Over one-half ounce of heroin and one-half ounce of cocaine and paraphernalia associated with the distribution of a controlled dangerous substance were recovered from the residence, according to the OCPO.

The conviction followed a 10-day jury trial before Superior Court Judge Michael T. Collins that ended on Friday. Merritt is scheduled to be sentenced by Collins on Dec. 13.