Manchester Trio Ran Cocaine Ring, Prosecutor Says

Three Manchester residents who running a cocaine and marijuana dealing operation out of a home on Ridgeway Road were arrested in a drug sweep last week, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Jesse Hancock, 36, Lauren Whitaker, 33, and Jessica Whitaker, 18, all of 2675 Ridgeway Road, were arrested in an early-morning raid on Nov. 4, authorities said, when Manchester Police, the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group Northern Enforcement Unit, the Ocean County Regional SWAT team and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department K-9 executed a no-knock warrant on the home.

Officers seized roughly 40 grams of cocaine, with a street value of about $3,500, and an unspecified amount of marijuana, authorities said, as well as various paraphernalia, including electronic scales, packaging materials and other items used in the trio's cocaine dealing. Police also seized about $1,200 in cash, authorities said.

All three were charged with possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hancock and Jessica Whitaker were taken to the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $75,000 full cash bail and $25,000 full cash bail, respectively, and Lauren Whitaker was released on her own recognizance.