Four Drug Raids, 11 Suspects in Eight Days in Ocean County

The number of suspected drug pushers in Ocean County shrinks by 11 as investigators reveal arrests in four separate probes.

Suspects from six communities in Ocean, Monmouth and Essex Counties were corralled in Lacey, Berkeley, Manchester and Lakewood in a span of eight days from October 30 thorugh November 6, according to information from Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato's office.

Anthony Webb, 25, of Lanoka Harbor, was charged with two possession counts related to marijuana and one each of intent to distribute and possession of paraphernalia on October 30. He was released on his own recognizance.

Local and county investigators who searched his Laurel Boulevard dwelling and Chevy Silverado said they seized about 350 grams of marijuana, scales, packing material and about $1,100 cash.

Two days later, five more people were rounded up in no-knock searches of two Berkeley Township homes.

Barry McCombs, 41, Charles Warford, 55, and Nicole Surko, 27, all gave authorities the same Second Avenue address where one raid unfolded. Christian Myers, 28, is identified as living in the First Avenue home at which a second warrant was executed. Also charged was Antoine Grene, 35, of Irvington.

Investigators say they uncovered heroin and marijuana packed for sale, packaging equipment, a loaded .380-caliber handgun, scales, and about $1,200 cash.

McCombs faces three possession counts related to heroin and drug paraphernalia, and possession of a firearm during commission of an offense involving a controlled dangerous substance. He was remanded to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River, with bail set at $250,000 cash.

Warford, Surko and Greene were each handed three charges for possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia and released on their own recognizance. Myers was also released after being charged with marijuana-related possession and intent-to-distribute counts and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Another no-knock raid was executed in Manchester on November 4. Jesse Hancock, 36, Lauren Whitaker, 33, and Jessica Whitaker, 18, were charged after a search of their Ridgeway Road dwelling.

Investigators said they discovered about 40 grams of cocaine with an estimated value of $3,500, along with marijuana, scales and packing equipment, and about $1,200 cash.

A judge in Toms River set Hancock's bail at $75,000 with no option for release on payment of 10 percent. He's charged with cocaine possession and intent to distribute, and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Lauren Whitaker and Jessica Whitaker were issued similar charges. Lauren was released on her own recognizance and Jessica was jailed, with bail set at $25,000.

The last probe climaxed on November 6 in Lakewood and resulted in the arrest of William Richardson, 43, of Long Branch, and Eryk Carpenter, 43, of Neptune.

Members of the Prosecutor's Special Operations Group North on Park Avenue at County Line Road stopped a Mazda Protege occupied by the two men, suspected as a heroin storage unit.

Investigators said it contained about 1,750 individual hits of heroin with an estimated street value of $15,000. They arrested the pair and seized the Mazda pending forfeiture.

Richardson and Carpenter were charged with possession of heroin and possession with intent to distribute and assigned to the Ocean County Jail. A judge set bail at $200,000 cash for Richardson and $150,000 with no ten-percent release option for Carpenter.