Resident Allegedly Found With Stun Guns, Switchblades

UPDATE: On Jan. 9, 2012, the charges against Lauren Damone were dismissed, according to documents from the Bridgewater Township Municipal Court.

The township police and the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office arrested two Bridgewater residents and one Branchburg resident last week on various drug and weapons charges, according to the prosecutor's office.

Union Avenue resident Jessica Torres, 24, was charged with possession of a stun gun, possession of a switchblade and possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana. Mountain Top Road resident Lauren Damone, 23, was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana.

Branchburg resident Kelly Eberling, 26, was charged with possession of oxycodone and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano, the arrests were made following a two-month investigation by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force, in conjunction with the Bridgewater Township police.

Following the narcotics investigation, a search warrant was obtained to search Torres's home, Soriano said. Prior to executing it on Feb. 3, Soriano said police set up surveillance there, and saw her leave in the backseat of a vehicle at 6:50 p.m.

From there, Soriano said the vehicle in which Torres was a passenger was stopped, and Damone, who was in the front seat, was allegedly found with marijuana.

Soriano said detectives also saw Eberling arrive at Torres' house, and when he was stopped for questioning, he gave police 29 oxycodone pills and a glass smoking pipe.

After executing the search warrant, Soriano said police found four stun guns, two switchblades and marijuana in Torres' home.

According to Soriano, the estimated street value of the oxycodone is $580.

All three defendants were released on their own recognizance.