by Ralph Stocco, TRPD
TOMS RIVER-On October 5th at 5 am the Toms River Police Department, executed three court-authorized search warrants at the Red Carpet Inn located at 2 West Water Street. Today’s operation was effectuated in conjunction with the Toms River Police Department Emergency Services Unit, NJ State Police Troop D Parkway Region Criminal Investigation Unit, NJ State Police TEAMS Unit, United States Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Toms River Township Quality of Life Task Force.
Eleven men and four women were taken into custody as a result of the month-long investigation. The fifteen defendants were charged with offenses including drug distribution, drug possession, and outstanding warrants. Additionally, several fire code violations were observed at the business and are being addressed. This location was targeted as a result of numerous open air incidents of narcotic sales as well as citizen complaints.
The recently formed Quality of Life Task Force combines members of the Townships Criminal Investigative Bureau, Special Enforcement Team, Division of Fire Prevention, and the Code Enforcement/ Zoning Department. This task force will continually address locations within the township that have been identified as being habitual places of concern for criminal activity, public safety, municipal code violations, and quality of life issues. We anticipate that additional locations and investigations will be initiated in the coming months.
To maintain the integrity of this ongoing operation and the safety of undercover officers; the names and specific charges of each defendant are not being released at this time. All defendants are being held on bail in the Ocean County Jail or have been released on charges pending a future court date.