TOMS RIVER – Five Ocean County residents have been charged with narcotics offenses for their involvement in selling drugs, officials said.
A month-long investigation led law enforcement to identifying a home on Walnut Street in Toms River being used by 20-year-old Keith Morse of Toms River to store and distribute crack cocaine.
On January 21 detectives established surveillance on the home and observed Morse meeting with an individual, later identified as Phillip Tarver, 41, of Toms River. Surveillance was maintained on Tarver as he traveled through Toms River.
Officers then pulled him over on Route 37, where the K9 Unit positively identified drugs in the car.
Tarver’s vehicle was towed and searched. Subsequently, detectives seized quantities of pills and crack cocaine, a knife and about $5,300.
Tarver was taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail. At the jail, Tarver was searched by jail personnel and found to be in possession of approximately 110 grams of crack cocaine.
Tarver was charged with Distribution of Less than One Half Ounce of Cocaine, Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Less than One Half Ounce of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Distribute More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine, two counts of Possession of Cocaine, two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) Offense, Financial Facilitation, and Wandering to Obtain/Distribute CDS. Tarver was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Surveillance was once again established on February 6 and detectives viewed Morse enter his home in Toms River. Morse was thereafter taken into custody at the home without incident.
Authorities searched the home and seized additional quantities of cocaine along with materials indicative of drug distribution.
At the time of the search, 28-year-old Dominique Swain of Toms River was in the home and was also taken into custody without incident.
Throughout the investigation, detectives learned that an associate of Morse, Alexis Johnson, 27, of Lakewood, was in possession of cocaine. On February 6, detectives pulled over a vehicle operated by Johnson as she traveled through Seaside Heights. Johnson and a passenger in the car, Laneah Shade, 18, of Bayville, were taken into custody without incident. Johnson was found to be in possession of quantities of cocaine and Percocet tablets.
Morse was charged with Distribution of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine, Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Distribute More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child – due to the fact that a minor was present during narcotics transactions. Morse was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Johnson was charged with Distribution of Cocaine, Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Distribute More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Percocet tablets, and Wandering to Obtain/Distribute CDS. Johnson was transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Swain was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine, Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Johnson was transported to the Ocean County Jail, processed, and served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
Shade was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine. Shade was transported to the Ocean County Jail, processed, and served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer commended the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, Toms River Township Police Department, Toms River Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit, Toms River Township Police K-9 Unit, Brick Township Police Department, South Toms River Police Department, Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, and Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, for their combined and collective efforts in connection with this investigation.
Charges are merely accusations until proven in a court of law.
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