Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Lakewood Township Police Chief Gregory Meyer have announced the culmination of a three-month, multi-agency cooperative investigation into the distribution of heroin in the Ocean County area.
This investigation identified three separate locations in Lakewood and one location in Barnegat as being utilized to store, package and dispense quantities of heroin as part of an extensive drug trafficking scheme.
Police say on August 6th, date tives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Regional SWAT Team, and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, along with Officers and Detectives from the Lakewood Township Police Department, the Toms River Township Police Department, the Barnegat Township Police Department, the Stafford Township Police Department, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, and the Monmouth/Ocean County DEA HIDTA Group, executed no-knock search warrants at these particular locations.
As a result, police say evidence associated with the operating and maintaining a Controlled Dangerous Substance Production Facility was seized, along with approximately 1500 individual dosage units of heroin, various quantities of marijuana, $1,200 in cash, and three handguns.
The following individuals were arrested and charged:
Tony Olden, 33, of Lakewood, was charged with one Count of Maintaining a Controlled Dangerous Substance Production/Manufacturing Facility in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-4; one Count of Possession of Over One-Half Ounce of Heroin with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(2); one Count of Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute within 500 feet of a Public Park in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7.1a; Possession of Heroin in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a; two counts of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); two counts of Possession of a Handgun While Committing a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offense in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1a; two counts of being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7b(1); two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); one Count of Possession of a Defaced Firearm in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3d; and Possession of Prohibited Ammunition in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3f(1). Olden is lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Shawn Craighead, 32, also of Lakewood, was charged with one Count of being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7b(1); one Count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); and one Count of Possession of Marijuana in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(4). Craighead is also lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.