BEACHWOOD – Police followed a suspected dealer and arrested three people involved in alleged cocaine transactions.
A three month-long investigation identified a residence on Wave Street in Beachwood as being utilized by Elijah Metellus, 20, of Beachwood, to store and distribute cocaine, ecstasy/MDMA, psilocybin, and marijuana, police said.
On February 4, Metellus was followed from his job and pulled over by police. They reported two grams of suspected cocaine was found in his vehicle.
On that same date, Detectives continued surveillance on the subject residence in Beachwood. Detectives observed a male, later identified as Dominic McGriff, 43, also of Beachwood, arrive and go inside. Shortly thereafter, he left the home and got into his vehicle and left. Police said they followed McGriff to the Emerald Apartments in Toms River. There, they watched a suspected drug transaction take place with Robert Labocetta, 62, of Toms River.
Labocetta was then followed by police and pulled over. He was found to be in possession of cocaine.
Police also followed McGriff. He was pulled over and approximately three grams of cocaine was found on his person, they said. A search warrant on the vehicle uncovered eight more grams.
The Ocean County Regional SWAT Team then executed a court-authorized search warrant on the Wave Street home. They seized approximately ten pounds of marijuana, 192 grams of psilocybin, eight grams of cocaine, a quantity of ecstasy/MDMA pills, drug paraphernalia indicative of narcotics distribution, a 9mm handgun, rounds of ammunition, and approximately $13,000.
Metellus was charged with seven counts of Possession of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, six counts of Distribution of More than One Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Cocaine, Possession of More than Five Pounds but Less than 25 Pounds of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of a Psilocybin in a Quantity Greater than One Ounce with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Psilocybin, Possession of ecstasy/MDMA, eight counts of Possession of Cocaine, three counts of Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a High Capacity Ammunition Magazine, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) Offense.
McGriff was charged with Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Less than One Half Ounce of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Distribution of Less than One Half Ounce of Cocaine, Wandering to Obtain/Distribute CDS, and Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine.
Labocetta was charged with Possession of Cocaine, Wandering to Obtain/Distribute CDS, and Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine.
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 Police, Toms River Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit, Beachwood Police, Island Heights Police Department, Stafford Police Drug Enforcement Unit, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, for their combined and collective assistance in connection with this investigation.
Charges are merely accusations until proven in a court of law.
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