5 Charged, Crack, Cocaine, Pills Seized In Toms River Bust: Prosecutor

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Five people have been arrested in connection with drug distribution in Toms River that was based in a home on Walnut Street, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Wednesday.

Keith Morse, 36, Phillip Tarver, 41, and Dominique Swain, 28, all of Toms River; Alexis Johnson, 27, of Lakewood, and Laneah Shade, 18, of Bayville, all were arrested over the last three weeks in connection with the distribution of crack cocaine, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Investigators determined Morse was using the Walnut Street home to store and distribute crack cocaine, the prosecutor's office said.

During surveillance on the house, detectives saw Morse meet with a person later identified as Tarver, the prosecutor's office said. Detectives continued to watch Tarver as he traveled through Toms River and he was pulled over on Route 37, authorities said.

A Toms River Police K-9 Unit responded and positively identified the presence of narcotics in Tarver's vehicle, which was then towed. A court-authorized search of the vehicle turned up unspecified amounts of pills and crack cocaine, a knife and about $5,300 in cash. Tarver was arrested and taken to the Ocean County Jail, the prosecutor's office said.

A search of Tarver at the jail turned up about 110 grams of crack cocaine, the prosecutor's office said.

Tarver was charged with distribution of less than one-half ounce of cocaine, possession of more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of less than one-half ounce of cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine, two counts of possession of cocaine, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm during the commission of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) offense, financial facilitation, and wandering to obtain/distribute CDS.

He was later released from the jail as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.

On Feb. 6 detectives watching Morse saw him go into a house at an unspecified location, and then arrested him at the home, where a search turned up unspecified amounts of cocaine along with materials indicative of drug distribution, the prosecutor's office said. Swain, who was present in the house at the time of the search, also was arrested.

The investigation also identified Johnson as an associate of Morse and detectives believed she was in possession of cocaine, the prosecutor's office said.

Johnson was pulled over as she drove through Seaside Heights and she and Shade, who was her passenger, were arrested. A search incident to Johnson’s arrest found her in possession of cocaine and Percocet tablets, the prosecutor's office said.

Morse was charged with distribution of more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine, possession of more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine, possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia, the prosecutor's office said.

Morse also was charged with endangering the welfare of a child because there was a minor was present during narcotics transactions, the prosecutor's office said. Morse is being held at the Ocean County Jail.

Johnson was charged with distribution of cocaine, possession of more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine, possession of cocaine, possession of Percocet tablets, and wandering to obtain/distribute CDS. She was taken to the Ocean County Jail and later released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.

Swain was charged with conspiracy to distribute more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine, possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Swain was taken to the Ocean County Jail, processed, and served with the charges via summons pending further court action.

Shade was charged with conspiracy to distribute more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine. She was taken to the Ocean County Jail, processed, and served with the charges via summons pending further court action.

Billhimer said the prosecutor's office Narcotics Strike Force collaborated with the Toms River Township Police Department, Brick Township Police Department, Seaside Heights Police Department, Stafford Township Police Department, and South Toms River Police Department on the investigation.