Berkeley Police Announce Multiple Drug Arrests, One Man Still At Large
Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele says arrests began with a call to the police department's anonymous tip line
Berkeley Township police detectives recently made a number of drug arrests involving street transactions in the Bayville area, Detective Sgt. James J. Smith said today.
"For the past three weeks, members of the Berkeley Township Detective Bureau and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Special Operations Group have been investigating open air drug dealing in several locations around Korman Road as well as Route 9 and Frederick Drive," he said.
The surveillance culminated in a number of area arrests made on Aug. 3, Smith and Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele said.
First arrested was Jacob Applegate, 21, Ocean Gate, near Route 9 and Frederick Drive. He was charged with possession of heroin. Municipal Court Judge James Gluck set Applegate's bail at $5,000, with no ten percent option.
Next was Michael Hughes, 28, Forked River. He was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance - Rexicet and Xanax- and possession with intent to distribute. Police also seized Hughes' white Ford pickup and found $500 in cash believed to be proceeds from drug transactions, Smith said.
Both Applegate and Hughes were taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River, he said.
"As we continued our investigation into the evening, in the same area, officers observed what appeared to be a drug deal between the occupant of a motor vehicle and a male on a bike," Smith said.
When a plainclothes detective moved in to investigate, the driver of the red Honda "sped up," and a pursuit began, he said.
Detective Scott Stoker apprehended the man on the bike.
Driver still at large
Detective Joseph Robertazzi and Patrolman Jason Malley pursued the Honda, which sped down a neighborhood street, then entered the Baywick Shopping Plaza on Route 9, Smith said.
"They tried to take the access road behind the plaza into the Hidden Creek Apartments," he said. "The driver stopped the car short of crashing into a fence and fled on foot. It ended without him being located."
The driver was identified as John Dames III, with addresses in several towns, including Lakewood, Rahway and Bayville. Policed seized the Honda and found his identification, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and nearly $4,300 in cash, also believed to be proceeds from drug transactions, Smith said.
A female passenger in the Honda was identified as Lauren Quigley, 28, Milford. Charges against her are pending, he said.
Dames is currently wanted by police on charges of conspiracy to distribute heroin, eluding police in a motor vehicle, aggravated assault and resisting arrest by flight, Smith said.
Ocean County Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson set Dames' bail at $200,000, with no ten percent option.
"His whereabouts is unknown at this time," Smith said.
Arrest at Walgreens
Police that same night arrested Dennis O'Leary, 48, Bayville, who was already wanted for robbing an 18-year-old Bayville man of his cell phone and $40 earlier that evening. O'Leary was arrested at the Walgreens store on Route 9 on Route 9 and Korman Road, Smith said.
He was charged with conspiracy to possess heroin and robbery. Ocean County Superior Court Judge Stephanie Wauters set O'Leary's bail at $50,000 with no ten percent option.
DiMichele said that the Ocean County Sheriff's Department's K-9 unit and officers from Ocean Gate, Pine Beach and Toms River also assisted in the arrests.
She and Smith urged residents to continue to call the township's anonymous tip line to report narcotics or suspicious behavior at 732-341-1132, ext. 611.
Matt K.
7:42 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
That's a touch worse than 2 bikes getting stolen?? Right Holden?
Betsy Huhn
7:42 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Way to go!!!! Get the dirtbags out of our town!!!!
holyhhh
2:55 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Good luck, that would be about 80-85% of the population of Bayville. No offense
skizma
8:46 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
wow....just a bit busy ..... nice going....
The Dude
10:18 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Keep up the good work!
gene smith
12:13 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
amazing. there seems to be an awful lot of drug dealing going on in that one area?? all these articles.who knew there was this many issues in Bayville? Glad to see they are out there locking these criminals up. I had a drug dealer living near us once it has to be driving the people living there mad. Keep up the good work fellas, Great Job!!
skizma
5:59 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
where are all the idiots stating that drugs are no big deal? like the last one on butler blvd. Teens with pot. Not biggy. Stupidity is the only curse here. because of the idiots that think pot is not a drug we end up with this. you can bet, your whole life savings, everyone one of these folks started with pot AND alcohol. the gateway drugs. It gets them used to sneaking around and learn how to make the deals. It's then all down hill, (well, really they were never on much of a hill to begin with) from there. And gene has it right. The neighbors and folks they affect is amazing. They never learned to give a da.... about anything, especially themselves. No we will be supporting them for life. great.
sandybottom
10:55 am on Friday, August 31, 2012
gateway drugs bs your an idiot
Berzerkeley
10:50 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Drugs are without a doubt the root of all evil, especially when it comes to our young people getting involved with them. What's just as bad are the ever increasing amount of 'Fast Cash' gold and jewelery places in Bayville and area towns that act as a fencing place for stolen property and actually encourage kids to steal from their own family members to support their illegal lifestyle ie drugs. The police are well aware of the problem. Where is the public outrage over businesses like this and why are places that knowingly cater to the criminal element allowed to continue to operate? it's time to make it as difficult for a fast cash store to operate in our town as it is for an x rated adult store to open near a school.
stan zalewski
2:55 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
good job guys keep up the good work
Mary Ricciuti
8:56 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I'm glad to see such an active police force cleaning up this town. Drugs are a huge problem in the area. Proud of Berkeley's finest! Keep up the good work guys!
M'Linda Kula
4:54 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
@ Ms. Mary R., I agree with your post. I would like to see our trained police force help other local townships with their drug related problems. We share other services, so why not cross over townships in order to solve a common problem? This cooperation would be a REAL EYE OPENER!
Berzerkeley
1:00 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
I'd just like to add one more thing in regards to the fast cash stores. Mayer Amato: If you read the Patch, I am asking you as a taxpayer in this town and also as a theft victim to put pressure on local businesses that cater to the criminal element. Stolen property is stolen property. In many cases it's stolen memories involving sentimental items which these thieves some of which are family members have absolutely no remorse about taking. The 7 day holding period the gold stores must wait before melting them down is not enough time for any kind of recovery. The holding period needs to be extended to a minimum of one month or more and any business proven to be knowingly fencing stolen property should have their town operating license revoked immediately. At least they are now required to take pictures of the items brought in along with recording the photo id of those involved with it. This is why drugs are called 'dope' because it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out who the thieves are. These are so called 'customers' who by their age and appearance alone should be reason to question where and how they repeatedly get possession of such valuable items. Mr. Mayor, along with our excellent police force and detectives who are doing all they can to nail those responsible, I feel this is also part of your job as our elected official. If you are looking for community support, help put an end to this serious problem we have in Berkeley and you'll get my vote every time.....
Lori
9:31 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Wow, bust one junkie and then they get a whole bunch more, thats one good thing about these people they rat out their buddies quicker than anything LMAO hope they get em all
oh just saying
2:30 am on Saturday, August 18, 2012
Great job Jimmy and the rest of BTPD!!!!!!!!