Six Arrested In Lacey Drug Sweep

The war on drugs in Ocean County continues with the arrests of six people, following an investigation by the Lacey Township Police Department.

According to a statement released by the department, the arrests were made over the course of the past week. The first happened back on October 3 when detectives watched a vehicle leaving a home on Nautilus Boulevard in Forked River where drug dealing activity was suspected. It led them to the Ocean County Library Lacey branch.

19-year-old Michael Capone of Forked River, was found in the bathroom of the library with heroin. Officers also found paraphernalia.

Detectives conducted a traffic stop of the suspect vehicle which led to the arrest of the driver, 21-year-old Alexandria Walker, of Forked River. Walker was found in possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia, police said, and ultimately charged with possession of heroin, distribution of heroin, and possession of a hypodermic syringe.

Capone was charged with possession of heroin and possession of a hypodermic syringe.

Joseph Ferenc, was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and lodged in the Ocean County Jail after being unable to post $750 bail on an outstanding warrant.

Then on October 9, police made an arrest near the Burger King in the Lacey Mall.

The passenger of a vehicle, 23-year-old Ralph Monaco, was identified as a resident of the same Nautilus Boulevard home. As detectives approached the vehicle, the driver of the vehicle, identified as 22-year-old John Clifton of Forked River, attempted to conceal cash.

The pedestrian, identified as 25-year-old Devin Demichele of the Whiting section of Manchester, had heroin and a hypodermic syringe in his possession which led to his arrest, police said.

The statement says additional heroin and drug paraphernalia along with nearly $2,000 cash, police said.

Clifton and Monaco were both charged with possession of heroin, distribution of heroin, and possession of a hypodermic syringe. Both were lodged in the Ocean County Jail in default of $20,000 bail.

Demichele is at the Ocean County Jail, bail set at $10,000.

21-year-old Fred Vona of Forked River, was also in the vehicle and was arrested for posession of paraphernalia.