PROSECUTOR’S SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP AND THE LACEY POLICE DEPARTMENTCONTINUE RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF DEALERS

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Lacey Township Police Chief Michael DiBella announced today the culmination of a short term investigation into drug activity in the southern Ocean County area.

Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, Southern Enforcement Unit conducted a cooperative investigation with the Lacey Township Police Department that resulted in the arrest of an Ocean County resident on numerous drug and weapons charges.

Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, Southern Enforcement Unit along with Detective’s and Patrol Officers from the Lacey Township Police Department conducted a short term investigation into drug activity in the Lacey Township area. During the course of the investigation Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Southern Enforcement Unit and the Lacey Township Police Department identified a Toms River woman, Karen Thompson age 52 of Toms River who was allegedly transporting heroin and other drugs into the Lacey Township area.

During the early afternoon hours of September 26, 2016 Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, Southern Enforcement Unit along with members of the Lacey Township Police Department’s Detective Bureau located Ms. Thompson in the area of Route 9 near the Shop Rite Plaza. After a brief surveillance Detectives approached Ms. Thompson. A subsequent search of a back pack that was in the possession of Ms. Thompson resulted in the seizure of quantities of CDS to include over 100 individual dosage units of Heroin, Cocaine, over 100 pills to include Suboxone, Oxycodone and Xanax. Ms. Thompson was also found to be in possession of a loaded .22 caliber handgun. Ms. Thompson was arrested and transported to the Lacey Township Police Department.

The following individual was arrested and charged:

Karen Thompson, age 52, 78 Castleton Drive, Toms River NJ was arrested and charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Suboxone, Possession of Suboxone with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Oxycodone, Possession of Xanax, Possession of a Firearm during the commission of a CDS offense and Certain Persons not to Possess a Firearm. The Honorable Superior Court Judge Patricia B. Roe JSC set bail at $200,000, no ten percent on Ms. Thompson. Ms. Thompson   was subsequently housed in the Ocean County Jail.

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that these defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.