Three People Allegedly High on Hallucinogens Needed Police Help After Getting Lost in Woods

Three people, who had become stranded in the woods of Shark River Park Tuesday morning, were arrested after calling for police assistance when they became lost and disoriented, and officers suspected the three were under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs.

On September 9, at approximately 6:18 in the morning, the Wall Township Police Department responded to an Officer Wanted Call on the Gully Road side of Shark River Park.

A 24-year-old female from Brick, later identified as Angela Urcuyo, had emerged from the park looking for assistance. Urcuyo reported that her two friends, one male and one female, were lost in the park and possibly under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance. According to Wall Township Police Chief Robert L. Brice, the controlled dangerous substance was alleged to have been hallucinogens.

Urcuyo told officers she was concerned for her friends’ safety, due to the amount of time that had passed and their current condition when she last observed them, prompting officers to quickly establish a perimeter around the park. Assisted by the Wall Township Police K9 unit, officers began a thorough search of Shark River Park, and were able to locate Urcuyo’s female friend, Jordan Anastasio, 25, of Long Branch, in the area of the American Legion on Gully Road.

According to Chief Brice, officers and the k9 unit continued to conduct an extensive search for the last missing person, named as Matthew Spinowitz, 23, of Brick. Spinowitz was eventually located while attempting to exit the perimeter area on Gully Road near the park.

At the conclusion of the on-scene investigation, Urcuyo was arrested for Being Under the Influence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance. Anastasio and Spinowitz were arrested for Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance and Being Under the Influence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance.

All three subjects were released from police custody with a pending court date after processing. Urcuyo and Spinowitz were also assisted with obtaining proper medical attention.

Chief Brice said that no photographs will be released at this time.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and state law.