Stafford Police Charge Toms River Man With DUI With 5-Year-Old Girl In Car

STAFFORD TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Toms River man who was found hunched over the steering wheel of a 2007 Jeep Liberty in the Route 72 McDonalds was under the influence of drugs and or alcohol and had a child under 5 in the car with him, Lt. James R. Vaughn said.

Stafford police received an anonymous call on April 19 about the man. When they responded, they determined that the driver, Brian K. Howell, 41, was operating his vehicle impaired and had the little girl in the vehicle with him. The girl's mother was also in the car, Vaughn said.

Police also found that Howell was in possession of Schedule II narcotics, Vaughn said.

Howell was arrested and charged criminally with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, driving while intoxicated and driving while intoxicated with the enhanced penalty for driving with a juvenile as a passenger, Vaughn said.

He received numerous summonses, and was later released pending a future court appearance. New Jersey’s Division of Child Protection and Permanency, formerly known as DYFS, was contacted to ensure proper care for the little girl.

The girl's mother was not charged.

Image: Patch file photo.