Major Drug Bust at Hotel in Toms River

Toms River police uncovered 700 bags of heroin, 118 bags of crack cocaine, prescription pills, scales and packing material, and more than $5,000 cash from a room at the Howard Johnson's Motel on Hooper Avenue, according to Department spokesman Ralph Stocco.

Members of the police department's Special Enforcement Team conducted surveillance in near the hotel after receiving information about individuals distributing narcotics there.

After observing suspicious activity from one of the hotel rooms on April 2, officers made contact with the individuals located inside.

55-year-old Patricia Brown of Toms River and 23-year-old Eric Dawson of East Orange were arrested.  Brown was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute over ½ ounce, possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute over ½ ounce, possession of alprazolam, possession of oxycodone and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Dawson was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute over ½ ounce, possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute over ½ ounce, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Dawson is the identical twin of Robert Dawson, who was arrested during a March 18 drug raid by members of the Special Enforcement Team at a Harrison Road home in Toms River that led to the seizure of 220 bags of heroin and 25 bags of crack cocaine, according to Stocco.

Brown and Eric Dawson were being held in the Ocean County Jail on $200,000 bail.