Machete, Flare Gun Seized During Toms River Drug Bust: Prosecutor

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River man is facing multiple charges after authorities seized a machete and flare gun from his car along with heroin and cocaine during a drug bust, the Ocean County prosecutor's office said.

Zachary Lockwood, 20, of Toms River, also is accused of injuring a detective when he became combative during the incident on Friday, March 22 in the parking lot of the ShopRite on Route 37, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Lockwood and Brittany Serovinski, 21, of Brick Township, had been identified through an undercover investigation as involved in heroin and cocaine distribution in the area, Billhimer said.

On March 22, detectives in prosecutor's office Narcotics Strike Force found Lockwood and Serovinski in a blue 2002 Ford Explorer in the parking lot, and while conducting surveillance on the two, saw them "engage in suspicious activity indicative of an illicit drug sale" with a woman later identified as Nicole Davison, 35, of Waretown.

As detectives approached the car, Lockwood, who was seated in the driver’s seat, began to reach into the center console and behind the seat, and officers tried to pull him out of the Explorer, the prosecutor said. Lockwood began to fight back and resisted the detectives' efforts, injuring one in the process. That detective was treated at the scene for his injuries, the prosecutor's office said.

A subsequent search of the Explorer uncovered the loaded flare gun behind the seat and a large machete, the prosecutor's office said. In addition, about 200 doses of heroin and an unspecified amount of cocaine were seized from the Explorer.

Davison was found to be in possession of cocaine, the prosecutor's office said.

Lockwood was charged with distribution of cocaine; possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; possession of heroin with intent to distribute; possession of cocaine; possession of Heroin; possession of a weapon during the commission of a controlled dangerous substance offense; possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose; and resisting arrest. He is in the Ocean County jail pending a detention hearing.

Serovinski was charged with distribution of cocaine; possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; possession of heroin with intent to distribute; possession of heroin; and possession of cocaine. Serovinski was released pending a future court date.

Davison was charged with possession of cocaine and released pending a future court date.

The investigation involved detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Strike Force, the Lacey Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, the Berkeley Township Police Department, and the Toms River Police Department.

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