Police seize 700 bags of heroin, 118 bags of crack cocaine, more in Toms River
Patricia Brown, 55, of Egret Drive in Toms River (left) and Eric Dawson, 23, of South Munn Avenue face a variety of drug charges after police arrested them in a recent raid in Toms River. (Photo courtesy of the Toms River Police Department)
A recent raid on a hotel room in Toms River turned up a variety of drugs, scales, packaging material, and cash, authorities said.
The Toms River Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team conducted surveillance near the Howard Johnson Hotel on Hooper Avenue on April 2 after receiving a tip about drug distribution at the location, according to a release from department spokesman Ralph Stocco.
The officers observed suspicious activity at one of the rooms and made contact with the occupants, identified as Patricia Brown, 55, of Egret Drive in Toms River, and Eric Dawson, 23, of South Munn Avenue in East Orange, Stocco said.
“The investigation led to a search of the hotel room, which led to the seizure of approximately 700 bags of heroin, 118 bags of crack cocaine, 5 grams of powder cocaine, oxycodone and alprazolam pills, along with scales and packaging material. Over $5,200 was seized from the room,” Stocco said. “Brown and Dawson were both placed under arrest.
Brown was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute over a half ounce, possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute over a half ounce, possession of alprazolam, possession of oxycodone and possession of drug paraphernalia. Honorable Francis R. Hodgson Jr. J.S.C. set bail at $200,000.00 cash only. Brown remains held in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River.
Dawson was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute over a half ounce, possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute over a half ounce, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Honorable Francis R. Hodgson Jr. J.S.C. set bail at $200,000.00 cash only. Dawson remains held in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River.
In March, the department arrested Dawson’s identical twin brother, Robert, during a narcotic related investigation and execution of a court authorized search warrant on Harrison Road in Toms River. That raid yielded 220 bags of heroin and 25 bags of crack cocaine.
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