900 Decks Of Heroin, $1,500 Seized, 3 Arrested In Drug Bust

Howell Township police arrested three people and seized 900 decks of heroin and $1,500 in cash Thursday after they stopped a vehicle suspected of narcotics activity in the parking lot of a township shopping plaza, Police Chief Andrew Kudrick said.

Members of the Howell Police Crime Suppression Unit -- Lt. Tom Rizzo and Officers T.J. Hurley, Nicholas Bondarew and Ryan Richards -- stopped a vehicle that was suspected of being involved in narcotics activity in the parking lot of a shopping plaza, Kudrick said.

As a result of the stop, the driver Michael Felicetta, 33, of Toms River, and his passengers, passengers Melissa Connor, 39, of South Toms River, and and Nyrahn Smith, 25, of Manalapan, were arrested, after they were found to be in possession of more than 900 decks (individual wax folds) of suspected heroin and a small amount of marijuana, Kudrick said.

In addition to the drugs, officers seized about $1,500 and Felicetta’s 2011 Chrysler 200, the chief said.

Felicetta was charged with possession of heroin and heroin distribution. He is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institute in lieu of $75,000 bail, according to jail records.

Connor, who also had an active warrant for her arrest, was charged with possession of heroin and heroin distribution and was being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institute in lieu of $75,000 bail, according to jail records.

Smith was charged with possession of heroin and heroin distribution. He was being held in lieu of $150,000 bail, according to jail records.