Somerset County officials announced the arrests of Armando Ortiz Jr., 23, of Bound Brook, and Nahshawn M. Thomas, 20, Hillsborough.
Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson stated that members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force along with members of the Bound Brook Police Department conducted a three-month narcotics investigation into the distribution of heroin by Armando Ortiz Jr.
As a result of this investigation, on Thursday, February 25, at approximately 7:45 p.m., Task Force detectives observed Armando Ortiz Jr., arriving at an undisclosed area in Bound Brook in a vehicle which was occupied by two other individuals, where he was approached by Task Force detectives for questioning.
According to police, as Task Force detectives were approaching Armando Ortiz, Jr. for questioning he was observed placing an item into a snowbank. The item was recovered by Task Force Officers and found to be approximately two hundred wax folds of heroin, with no stamp, which was seized as evidence.
Police said that Armando Ortiz, Jr. was placed under arrest at the scene without incident. Defendant Armando Ortiz, Jr. was searched incident to arrest and was found to be in possession of thirty-two strips of suboxone on his person.
According to police, Task Force detectives subsequently approached the occupants of the vehicle for questioning. The front seat passenger was identified as Nahshawn Thomas who was known to have an active outstanding Attempted Murder arrest warrant from Franklin Township. Nahshawn Thomas was arrested without incident.
Additionally, Prosecutor Robertson stated that on January 1, at approximately 2:31 a.m., Franklin Township Police officers responded to the area of Cedar Grove Lane for a 9-1-1 call reporting a male with a gunshot wound outside of a hotel.
Police said that upon responding, officers located a male victim outside of the hotel with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. The victim, a New Brunswick resident, was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
As a result of an investigation conducted by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Franklin Township Police defendant Nahshawn Thomas was identified as the suspect responsible for the shooting.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that defendant Armando Ortiz Jr., was charged with 3rd-degree Possession of CDS (Heroin) with the Intent to Distribute, and 3rd-degree Possession of CDS (Suboxone) with the Intent to Distribute.
Nahshawn M. Thomas was charged with 1st degree Attempted Murder, 2nd-degree Possession of a Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose and 2nd-degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.
Ortiz and Thomas were each lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a bail detention hearing.
Somerset County officials request anyone with information relating to the shooting to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533.
Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.