LAKEWOOD – In less than two weeks, Lakewood Police have managed to seize five guns and various amounts of drugs off township streets.
On August 6, search warrants executed at two Lakewood residences on Coventry Drive and Paris Court yielded a quantity of illegal narcotics and three handguns. The search was the result of several months-long narcotics investigation conducted with the assistance of the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Narcotics Strike Force.
As a result, 33-year old Tony Olden of Barnegat was arrested and charged with: Maintaining a CDS Production Facility; Possession of CDS; Possession of CDS with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Firearm During a CDS Offense; Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose; Certain Persons not to Possess a Firearm; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; Possession of Prohibited Ammunition; and Distribution of CDS within 500 feet of Public Playground.
In addition, 32-year old Shawn Craighead of Lakewood was charged with the Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Certain Persons not to Possess a Firearm, and Possession of Marijuana Under 50 grams.
Olden and Craighead were transported to Ocean County Jail pending court proceedings.
Following this bust, on August 11 Lakewood Police detectives arrested and charged an 18-year old man with possession of narcotics.
During this incident, police approached Razuan Russell of Jackson, who they believed to be acting suspicious near Pinewood Apartments. After employing K-9s, the detectives discovered the presence of contraband in a bag in Russell’s possession. A search found approximately 100 grams of marijuana and a loaded 45 caliber handgun.
Russell was arrested and charged with the Possession of a weapon, Possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, Possession of a firearm during a CDS offense, Possession of CDS with the intent to distribute and Possession of CDS.
He was later transported to the Ocean County Jail.
Also, on August 12, a concerned citizen called to Lakewood officers for help when he noticed a man acting suspiciously near the NJ Transit Bus Terminal. Officers Joseph Przewoznik and Anthony Caraballo, who were assigned to the Bike Patrol Unit, determined that the man was engaging in the distribution of narcotics in the area of Madison Avenue and First Street from his vehicle.
The officers employed K-9s to detect the presence of contraband and a search of the vehicle yielded heroin and a shotgun.
Brando Tucker, 46, of Lakewood, was arrested and charged with the Possession of CDS, the Possession of CDS with the intent to distribute, Distribution of CDS in a school zone and several weapon offenses.
