The battle continues to curb trend of cocaine and crystal meth pouring onto New Jersey streets

The Brick Police Street Crimes Unit is one of the many law enforcement special units out there battling the drug epidemic in keeping narcotics off the streets and holding those dealing and possessing illicit drugs responsible as the wave of cocaine, heroin, and crystal meth continues flooding our communities.

There were six arrests made of individuals in possession of the dangerous drugs of cocaine, heroin, and crystal methamphetamine, as announced by the Brick Township Police Department.

In one of the motor vehicle stops conducted by Brick Police Street Crimes Unit Detectives, two Toms River residents were arrested after being pulled over near the Walmart parking lot along Route 88 in the township.

When police conducted an on scene investigation on July 14 around 11:30 pm, they found cocaine and drug paraphernalia in the possession of 43-year-old Austin Keiser and 53-year-old Kathleen Lastra who were then charged with possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

Brick Police said that Keiser was also charged with distributing cocaine and placed in the Ocean County Jail, while Lastra was released on a summons.

There were four people arrested about a week later on July 25 around 10:45 pm as Brick Police Street Crimes Unit Detectives pulled over a small sedan they said committed several traffic violations near the Walmart parking lot on Route 88 in the township.

Inside the vehicle were four adults, a child, and a dog all sandwiched onto three seats.

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When police investigated the vehicle and the people inside of it, they found crystal methamphetamine, prescription pills, heroin, paraphernalia, and drug packaging materials.

From there, the four adults were arrested and charged while the child and dog were turned over to a family friend.

Brick Police said that Chastity Torro, 47, Neptune City, who was the driver of the sedan, was charged with "possession with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine, possession of crystal methamphetamine, heroin, prescription legend pills, and possession of drug paraphernalia, endangering the welfare of children and several motor vehicle summonses and was lodged in Ocean County Jail."

Noah Mangan, 43, Brick, was charged with "possession with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine, possession of crystal methamphetamine, prescription legend pills, heroin and drug paraphernalia. Mangan provided a false name to officers during the investigation and was charged with hindering his own apprehension for the three outstanding warrants for his arrest and was lodged in Ocean County Jail." 

James Sanderson, 41, Freehold, was charged with "possession with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine, possession of crystal methamphetamine, heroin, prescription legend pills and paraphernalia. He was lodged in Ocean County Jail."

Ashley Johnston, 30, Manchester, was charged with "possession with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine, possession of crystal methamphetamine, heroin, prescription legend pills and drug paraphernalia. During the investigation Johnston confirmed the false name provided by Mangan, which led to the additional charge of hindering apprehension of another. Johnston was released on a summons."