By: Yuritza Arroyo
Atlantic County authorities announce that Dwayne Townsend, 29, of Atlantic City, was sentenced on March 2 to eight years in New Jersey State Prison, where he must serve five years before being eligible for parole for certain second-degree persons not to possess a firearm, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance.
According to Atlantic City Police, on June 28, 2021, detectives observed a hand-to-hand narcotics transaction from a Ford Explorer.
Detectives say they performed a motor vehicle stop on the Ford Explorer and identified Dwayne Townsend as the driver.
As officers approached the motor vehicle, Mr. Townsend began to drive in reverse, striking the police vehicle and leaving the scene.
According to Police, Townsend was located struggling to swim in the bay.
Police say once he made it to a dock, he climbed onto the dock and dropped a black satchel containing heroin, cocaine, and marijuana.
Mr. Townsend then jumped back into the bay and had to be rescued by Atlantic City Police officers.
According to authorities, once rescued, he was found in possession of another satchel containing a loaded defaced 9mm Taurus G2C handgun with a 12-round high-capacity magazine.
Mr. Townsend did not have a permit to carry the handgun.