U.S. Marshals, Berkeley Detective Arrest Fugitive Wanted On Drug Charges

A man wanted on a number of drug charges in Berkeley has been arrested by U.S. Marshals and Berkeley Detective Scott Stoker in Brick Township, Detective Sgt. James J. Smith said.

John Dames III was taken into custody without incident at a home on Isabella Drive in Brick last night around 11 p.m. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River in lieu of $200,000 cash bail, Smith said.

Dames had been a fugitive since Aug. 3, when Berkeley officers observed what appeared to be a drug transaction between Dames, who was driving a red Honda, and a man on a bike on Route 9.

When a plainclothes detective moved in to investigate, the driver of the red Honda "sped up," and a pursuit began, Smith has said.

Stoker apprehended the man on the bike, while 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.

Dames - who has addresses in Lakewood, Rahway and Bayville - tried to take an access road behind the shopping center into the Hidden Creek Apartments. He stopped short of crashing the car into a fence and fled on foot, Smith said earlier this week.

Policed seized the Honda on Aug. 3 and found his identification, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and nearly $4,300 in cash, also believed to be proceeds from drug transactions, Smith said.

Dames is charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin, eluding police in a motor vehicle, aggravated assault and resisting arrest by flight, Smith said.

A female passenger in the Honda was identified as Lauren Quigley, 28, Milford. She was charged with hindering apprehension and was taken to the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $2,500, Smith said.