Toms River, Seaside Heights Residents Face Drug Distribution Charges

An investigation into drug dealing at a Toms River motel resulted in the arrest of two local residents, authorities announced.

Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office's Special Operations Group, Northern Enforcement Unit, arrested a Toms River man and a Seaside Heights woman on Tuesday who they say were dealing heroin and cocaine out of Room 18 at the Sun and Sand Motel on Route 37.

Based on an investigation conducted by members of the unit, detectives also identified a 2011 Buick Regal as being utilized to store and distribute narcotics.

At approximately 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, the detectives located the Buick as it left the area of the motel and traveled to the Shell gas station located on Route 37 and Fischer Boulevard, said Al Della Fave of the prosecutor's office. The detectives and members of the Toms River Police Department then executed a motor vehicle stop on the Buick, which was occupied by Damian Arena, 35, of Toms River and Jodi McConnon, 37, of Seaside Heights. as well as on the motel room and the Poe Avenue, Toms River, home of Arena, said Della Fave.

In all, police seized approximately 170 individual dosage units of heroin and under one ounce of cocaine, Della Fave said. Police also located drug paraphernalia, specifically several glass crack smoking pipes.

Arena, 35, was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson Jr. set bail on Arena at $50,000 cash. Jail records showed Arena was not an inmate on Thursday.

McConnon, 37, of Hancock Avenue in Seaside Heights, was charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. McConnon was released on a summons.