17 Arrested In Seaside Heights Drug Sweep: Police

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ — Seventeen people were arrested Thursday evening in a drug sweep that seized heroin, cocaine, prescription pills and marijuana at four locations in Seaside Heights, police in the borough said.

Search warrants were executed at 61 Sumner Ave., 116 Hancock Ave., 120 Sheridan Ave. and 225 Lincoln Ave. at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday as part of an investigation by investigators with the Drug Enforcement Agency, New Jersey State Police, the Ocean County Prosecutor's office and the Ocean Coutny Sheriff's office, Detective Steve Korman of the Seaside Heights Police Department said Sunday.

Authorities did not give specifics on the total amounts of the drugs seized, but a police scanner was found at one of the locations.

Of the 17 people arrested, five were being held in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River, as of Sunday morning, awaiting detention hearings. The remainder appear to have been released under bail reform rules.

Those arrested and their charges are as follows, Korman said:

Milton Johnson, 45, of Anthony Way, Jackson. He was arrested at the Hancock Avenue home and is being held at the Ocean County Jail on eight counts of possession of CDS, nine counts of possession of CDS with intent to distribute, two counts of possession and distribution of CDS within a recreational zone, two counts of possession and distribution of CDS within a school zone, and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Stephanie Woodford, 37, of Hancock Avenue, Seaside Heights. She was arrested at the Hancock Avenue location and is being held at the Ocean County Jail on three counts of possession of CDS with intent to distribute, one count of possession of CDS and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Zahir Muhammad, 20, of Mission Street, Montclair. He was arrested at the Hancock Avenue location and is being held at the Ocean County Jail on six counts of possession of CDS, five counts of possession of CDS with intent to distribute and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Janice Buquet, 66, of Sherman Avenue, Seaside Heights. She was arrested at the Hancock Avenue location and is being held at the Ocean County Jail on six counts of possession of CDS, three counts of possession of CDS with intent to distribute and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

James Trotman, 37, of Mermaid Avenue, Beachwood. He was arrested at the Sumner Avenue location and is being held at the Ocean County Jail on two counts of possession of CDS, two counts of possession of CDS with intent to distribute, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, and one count of possession of an emergency communication receiver, which makes it illegal to possess a scanner "while in the course of committing or attempting to commit a crime."

Quaison Ellis, 21, of Hawthorne Lane, Barnegat. He was arrested at the Hancock Avenue location and charged with three counts of possession of CDS with intent to distribute, one count of possession of CDS and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released with a summons under bail reform rules.

Wali Hobbs, 31, of Foxglove Street, Browns Mills. He was arrested at the Hancock Avenue location and charged with six counts of possession of CDS with intent to distribute, three counts of possession of CDS, and five counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released with a summons under bail reform rules.

Jennifer Forcier, 33, of Route 37 West, Toms River. She was arrested at the Hancock Avenue location and charged with obstruction, and with wandering under 2C:33-2.1B, which relates to loitering in a public place to obtain or distribute drugs. She was released with a summons under bail reform rules.

Jeffrey Bair, 48, of South Sea Court, Barnegat. He was arrested at the Hancock Avenue location and charged with wandering and with one count of possession of CDS. He was released with a summons under bail reform rules.

Christopher Gagliardotto, 38, of Sumner Avenue, Seaside Heights. He was arrested at the Sumner Avenue location and charged with one count of possession of CDS. He was released with a summons under bail reform rules.

Michelle Swann, 37, of Monticello Drive, Whiting. She was arrested at the Sumner Avenue location on an outstanding traffic warrant from Jackson. She was not listed in the Ocean County Jail online records but it was not immediately clear whether she was released.

Robert Hudson, 40, of Citadel Drive, Jackson. He was arrested at the Sumner Avenue location and charged with three counts of possession of CDS with intent to distribute, one count of possession of CDS and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released with a summons under bail reform rules.

Raymond Wilson, 33, of Frederick Drive, Bayville. He was arrested at the Sumner Avenue location and charged with three counts of possession of CDS with intent to distribute, one count of possession of CDS, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, and one count of possession of an emergency communication receiver. He was released with a summons under bail reform rules.

Robyn Jackson, 28, of Berkley Drive, Browns Mills. She was arrested at the Sumner Avenue location and charged with three counts of possession of CDS with intent to distrubte, two counts of possession of CDS, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of possession of an emergency communication receiver. She was released with a summons under bail reform rules.

Rosie Hardy, 32, of Hancock Avenue, Seaside Heights. She was arrested at the Sumner Avenue location and charged with a disorderly persons offense. She was released with a summons.

Malaika Vereen, 48, of Northwest NYE Street, Newport, Oregon. She was arrested at the Lincoln Avenue location and charged with four counts of possession of CDS. She was released with a summons under bail reform rules.

Sandra Figueroa, 42, of Lincoln Avenue, Seaside Heights. She was arrested at the Lincoln Avenue location and charged with five counts of possession of CDS, three counts of possession of CDS with intent to distribute, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of tampering with evidence.

Korman said the agencies involved in the sweep were the DEA's Atlantic City Resident Office, the NJSP Special Investigations Unit, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Regional SWAT teams, the Ocean County Sheriff's Department and the Ocean County Sheriff's Department K9 units.

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