We've heard or seen over the last few months and even beyond that, that when a police officer is off-duty, they're not off-duty.

Being a cop is always keeping your eyes moving and ears listening to the things that can help continue making communities and residents safer.

When Jackson Police Chief Matthew Kunz was off duty on Saturday, he happened to spot a drug deal taking place.

He phoned it into dispatch and police officers went out in search of two vehicles.

One vehicle was stopped by Officer Kevin Chesney on Bennetts Mills Road who said he spotted a large hunting knife on the floor board near the driver.

He asked the driver to step out of the vehicle so he could speak with him on what he was doing and why on a dead-end street.

Officer Anthony Riso then arrived on scene to assist joining Officer Chesney and Officer Michael Morizio who was also on scene.

Through their investigating of both suspects allegedly involved in the drug deal, they came back together sharing two different versions of what happened from the suspects.

The driver was asked for consent for police to search the vehicle and that request was turned down.

So, a K9 from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department was requested to conduct a narcotics sniff of the suspect vehicle.

OCSO Officer Fiorentino and his dog “Utah” arrived and gave a positive indication of suspected narcotics within the vehicle.

Police searched the vehicle and said they found "an abundance of suspected Heroin and Crack Cocaine, Drug paraphernalia for CDS ingestion as well as a burglary tool kit, a small scale and a plethora of used empty wax folds utilized to contain Heroin which were littered throughout the vehicle."

They also found over $5,300 in cash.

Brian Vientos was then charged with 2 counts of Possession of CDS for the Heroin and Crack Cocaine, 2 counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS, Possession of a Weapon and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia as well as motor vehicle summonses.

He was released on a complaint summons with a pending court date.

Amanda Meklin was charged with 2 counts of Possession of CDS for the Heroin and Crack Cocaine, 2 counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Prescription Legend Drug.

She was lodged in the Ocean County Jail a result of her charges.

Vin
loading...

You can follow Vin Ebenau on Twitter and Instagram and email news tips to vin.ebenau@townsquaremedia.com.

More From Townsquare Media Monmouth-Ocean:

Inspiring Images of NJ Medical Professionals Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine

Enter your number to get our free mobile app

More From 92.7 WOBM