An court ordered ankle bracelet placed on a suspected drug dealer wasn’t enough to keep him off the streets of Ocean County this week in Brick. Rashon Brown was arrested again, while wearing his ankle bracelet, courtesy of the New Jersey Bail Reform and Speedy Trial Act when police officers in Howell Township caught him “slinging rock”, heroin and marijuana in their town.
According to a police report by the Howell Township Police Department:
On April 11, 2017, Howell Township Crime Suppression Unit (Capt. Thomas Rizzo #237, DSGT Jack Headley #242, Det. TJ Hurley #192, Det. Robert Ortenzi #604, Det. Ryan Richards #635, Det. David Gilliland #637, and K9 Nicholas Bondarew #610/Vito) arrested three subjects from Ocean County after they were found to be in possession of approximately five hundred (500) folds of heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana, and cash.
At approximately 4:00pm, Det. Gilliland keenly observed a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe, traveling at a high rate of speed on Herbertsville Road (Rt.549). Det. Gilliland initiated a motor vehicle stop, after a plate inquiry also revealed that the registered owner had a suspended driver’s license.
Subsequent to the stop, Det. Gilliland identified the occupants, starting with the driver as Roosevelt Harris (Age:38 of Brick Twp.), front passenger as Jerel Wallace (Age:40 of Asbury Park/Brick), and rear passenger as Rashon Brown (Age:34 of Brick) who was not wearing a seatbelt. As Crime Suppression Unit officers also arrived on location, suspicion of narcotics activity became evident to include the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle.
As the three subjects exited the vehicle, rear passenger, Rashon Brown, was observed to have an electronic monitoring device secured to his ankle. Brown advised that the device was placed on him to ensure a curfew of 9:00pm, subsequent to a recent arrest in Brick Twp. Electronic monitoring is one of the alternative options to incarceration, offered by the new Bail Reform initiative. As checks were conducted on each subject, Brown was also found to have an active traffic warrant, issued by Brick Twp., and was arrested without incident.
After explaining the suspicion of narcotics activity, Det. Gilliland requested the driver, Roosevelt Harris’ consent to search the vehicle. Harris authorized the search. As a search of the vehicle commenced, Det. Ryan Richards located a hidden compartment within the upper dashboard of the Tahoe. Within the compartment, a plastic bag containing approximately five hundred (500) folds of heroin stamped “Blue Magic” & “Blue Ink” was located in addition to a cotton sock containing a clear package of suspected crack cocaine. Two other hidden compartments were located within the Tahoe by Capt. Rizzo and Det. Hurley, however, both did not contain any further contraband. A total of $415.00 in cash was found within the vehicle, in addition to five cellular telephones. Harris and front passenger, Jerel Wallace were then also arrested without incident. Subsequent to a search incident to his arrest, Harris was also found to be in possession of marijuana within his own sock.
The Chevy Tahoe was towed from the scene as forfeiture will be sought. Harris, Wallace, and Brown were all criminally charged with Possession of CDS (Heroin), Possession of CDS (Heroin) with the Intent to Distribute, Possession of CDS (Crack Cocaine), and Possession of CDS (Crack Cocaine) with the Intent to Distribute. Harris was also criminally charged with
Possession of CDS (Marijuana) and issued a motor vehicle summons for Possession of CDS in a motor vehicle. Brown was also cited for his failure to wear a seatbelt. All three subjects were then transported to Monmouth County Correctional Institute, as per the new Bail Reform guide.
Stock Photo by Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick
