The Monmouth County Prosecutors Office made a significant arrest this week in Asbury Park. What appeared to be a legitimate music store very well may have been a front for a significant drug enterprise involving cocaine, heroin, marijuana and possibly even guns. The owner was arrested this week for possession with intent to distribute heroin, as well as distribution of cocaine. He was also found to be in possession of weapons, including handguns and an assault rifle. The charges followed seizure of nearly $1.0 million dollars in drugs, cash and weapons at the defendant’s properties. Bail has been set at just under $1.3 million.
As a Monmouth County Criminal Attorney for nearly twenty years, nothing really surprises me. The fact that a large cache of drugs and weapons might to recovered in Asbury Park is not a shock. There continues to be a significant concentration of narcotics and weapons in the town despite the revitalization the City of Asbury has enjoyed. The more pressing question in this particular case is whether or not the police had a warrant or independant basis for a search of this individual’s house. While one would assume that a warrant existed, I certainly would not be astonished if this is more of a grey area case given my experience as a Monmouth County Criminal Attorney. Warrantless searches continue to be commonplace in questionable scenarios. I will keep you posted on this one.
Filed under: Cocaine, Heroin, Weapons , Heroin Possession in Monmouth County NJ, Monmouth County Charge of Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose
