Three Charged In Lacey Township Drug Bust In Lanoka Harbor

LACEY TOWNSHIP, NJ - Authorities arrested three at a Lanoka Harbor home recently and seized a quantity of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and Oxycodone, Police Chief Michael C. DiBella said.

Members of the Lacey Township Detective Bureau's Narcotics Unit, led by Detective Lieutenant Christopher Cornelius, completed an ongoing drug investigation on Nov. 3 The Ocean County SWAT team executed a no-knock search warrant at 206 Lawrence Drive.

SWAT team members found two tenants of the home, a Long Branch man and a fourth person in a running vehicle that was parked in the home's driveway, the chief said.

An initial drug sweep was conducted by a K-9 unit from the Stafford Township Police Department. A search of the home uncovered cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and Oxycodone. Detectives also found roughly 10 grams of cocaine inside the fuel door of the vehicle, Dibella said.

Arrested were:

Kenneth Hoffman III, 29, the target of the investigation and one of the home's tenants, was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance.

Daniel Williams, 44, Long Branch, was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute. He also had an outstanding $198 Belmar traffic warrant. Both men were taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River to await a bail hearing.

Constance Roberson, 34, Neptune, was the driver of the vehicle. She was charged with possession of cocaine and released on her own recognizance.

The second tenant in the home was not charged. Two vehicles were also seized.

Residents are urged to report suspicious activity in their neighborhoods by either contacting the Lacey Township Police Department at 609-693-6636 (calls may be kept confidential) or by logging onto the website, http://Laceypd.org and leaving an anonymous tip.

Photo: Patch file photo