$15,000 Worth of Heroin Seized by Toms River Police

Toms River police seized about 30 bricks of heroin valued at $15,000 from a Hooper Avenue hotel and charged four locals with a range of drug offenses Thursday. 

Members of the Toms River Police Department Special Enforcement Team executed a search warrant at the 955 Hooper Ave. Howard Johnson hotel and seized the heroin, 16 grams of cocaine and $11,800 in U.S. currency, said Chief of Police Michael Mastronardy. 

The heroin was contained in 1,513 wax folds with a street value of $15,000, according to Mastronardy. 

Shane Roberts, 28 from Driver Avenue in Brick, was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with the intent to distribute over one-half an ounce, possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute over one-half an ounce, according to Mastronardy.

Bail for Roberts, who is being held at the Ocean County Jail in Toms River, was set at $300,000 with no 10 percent option, the chief said. 

Sherita Brown-Roberts, 35 and from the same Driver Avenue residence as Shane Roberts, was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with the intent to distribute over one-half an ounce, possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute over one-half an ounce, Mastronardy said.

Brown-Roberts' bail was set at $175,000 with no 10 percent option and she remains lodged in the Ocean County Jail, according to the chief. 

Joan Sudano, 56 of Stapleton Avenue in Brick, was charged with possession of heroin and possession of suboxone and released on a summons, Mastronardy said. 

Christine Sudano, 31 of Oak Street in Lakewood, was charged with possession of heroin and released on a summons, Mastronardy said. 

The chief said that so far in 2013, the Toms River Police Special Enforcement Team has seized more than 14,000 bags of heroin with a street value exceeding $140,000. 

Anyone with information regarding drug distribution in Toms River is asked to contact Special Enforcement Team supervisor Sgt. Shaun O'Keeffe at 732-349-0150, ext. 1272, Mastronardy said.