MANASQUAN – Officers from multiple police departments worked together on a case which led to the arrests of four people on drug charges. One of those individuals was hit with other charges as well.
Around 12:30 a.m. July 20, officers from the Manasquan Police Department responded to Route 70 and Burnt Tavern Road where they joined officers from the Brielle Police Dept. who were conducting a motor vehicle stop.
Following an investigation, the Brielle officers placed four individuals under arrest for possession of marijuana. Once the Manasquan officers arrived on the scene the Brielle officers turned over one prisoner to them for to transport.
Prior to placing this prisoner in their vehicle, a subsequent search yielded two loaded handguns concealed in his pants by two of Manasquan’s officers. Both firearms were secured and turned over to the Brielle Police Dept.
Around 1:15 a.m. that same day, officers from Manasquan received a call for service in Brielle, which they responded to in the area of Route 35 near Evergreen Avenue.
This call involved a report of a suspicious/abandoned motor vehicle. Before arriving on scene, these officers received information that the vehicle was possibly tied to a prior incident in Brick Township where two of their officers were struck and then the vehicle eluded them.
Shortly after the Manasquan officers arrived, it was identified as the vehicle linked to the incident in Brick Township.
Once the investigation was completed, Manasquan police placed Darius Edwards, 24, of Brooklyn, NY under arrest and later charged him for possession of marijuana over 50 grams, intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a firearm without a permit, possession of a large capacity magazine, possession of a firearm while committing a drug crime, and multiple other charges.
In communication with the Brick Police Department, Edwards was identified as the individual that had operated the vehicle when two officers were struck earlier that evening in Brick.
Darius was later charged by Brick Police for two counts of assault by auto, eluding, obstruction, possession of marijuana, as well as motor vehicle violations.
The Manasquan Police Department acknowledges the assistance of the Wall Township Police Department as well as the Sea Girt Police Department with assisting in the arrest of Darius Edwards.
