Pair Arrested On Drug Charges After Running into Police Station For Help

Police said a pair who showed up at police headquarters at 2:30 a.m. claiming a man was chasing them were wanted themselves, and police arrested them for outstanding warrants as well as charged them with drug possession after conducting a search of their car.

Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said Toms River resident Salvatore Concepcion drove to police headquarters on Oak Avenue at 2:30 a.m. today with passenger Elizabeth Walsh, who ran inside the police lobby to report they were being followed.

Shortly thereafter, a 19-year-old Toms River man showed up to the police station and said he met Concepcion in a Route 37 service station to buy marijuana, but that Concepcion took off after the man gave Concepcion $100, Mastronardy said.

Mastronardy said the 19-year-old followed the Jeep Concepcion was driving to police headquarters and told police his side of the story.

"He said they tried to sell him cocaine, but only wanted to buy marijuana, and after giving them $100 the pair drove off," Mastronardy said. "They went all the way from Route 37 to police headquarters, I guess hoping he would stop following them."

At that point, Toms River Police discovered Concepcion and Walsh both had oustanding warrants. Concepcion, of Dunedin Street, had an outstanding warrant for $350 out of Toms River Municipal Court and Walsh of Sea Island Drive, also had an outstanding warrant for $10,000 out of Hamilton Township Atlantic County.

Police then put Concepcion and Walsh under arrest, Mastronardy said. 

"Both were arrested in the lobby of Headquarters and transferred to Ocean County Jail," said the police chief.

Police then obtained a search warrant for the Jeep Concepcion was driving, and allegedly found drug paraphernalia, leading to charges for Concepcion and Walsh for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, Mastronardy said.

"After obtaining a warrant, police searched the jeep and found a hypodermic syringe,  and numerous wax folds and narcotics paraphernalia and charged both Concepcion and Walsh with additional narcotics charges and bail was set for $20,000 for each," said the police chief. 

"I don't think we ever recovered the $100 bill," said Mastronardy.

Investigating were Officers Vincent Pedalino, Anthony Scali and Chris McDowell.