Forked River man allegedly peddled cocaine from home, police say

Three-thousand dollars' worth of cocaine is seized in Lacey, and a township man is accused of dealing it.

John Appleby III, 32, of Forked River, was arrested Saturday, when police stopped and serached his Jeep Rubicon on Route 9, authorities said.

The arrest caps an ongoing investigation that began with information of suspected drug dealing in a house on Maui Drive, police said, and entailed Lacey patrol officers and several K-9 teams supplied by the Ocean County Sheriff's Office.

Detective who stopped the car said they found about an ounce of cocaine and a small amount of methamphetamine, at which point they apprehended Appleby and his passenger, Samantha Matthias, 19, also of Maui Drive.

After impounding the Jeep, investigators searched Appleby's house, where they said they found digital scales and packaging materials "consistent with distribution."

Appleby and Matthias were charged iwth possession of controlled substances, intent to distribute more than a half-ounce of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Appleby was transferred to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River to await a hearing. Matthias was released on her own recognizance to await court proceedings.