Street Crimes Unit Make Several Arrests For Illegal Drug Activity

Photo by Judy Smestad-Nunn

  BRICK – In the last two weeks, the Brick Township Street Crimes Unit (SCU) have been curtailing any illegal drug activity in the area, leading to several arrests.

  On July 14, detectives found a Honda CRV committing multiple violations such as littering, failing to maintain its lane of travel and an equipment violation, while driving eastbound on Drum Point Road.

  After pulling over the car at the Wawa parking lot at 383 Drum Point Rd., officers identified the driver as Robert Trella Jr., 46, from Toms River, and the passenger as Crystal Rella, 36, from Brick.

  During the stop, detectives suspected the presence of drugs in the car and called for a K9. Rella then began yelling obscenities at the officers, causing a disturbance in the Wawa parking. Despite officers giving her warnings, she continued to act out and was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct.

  During the investigation, detectives saw Trella put something into his mouth, believing he was attempting to destroy evidence. Officers began to place him under arrest and retrieve the evidence. Trella attempted to fight officers off but was eventually handcuffed and the was evidence retrieved, the small package appeared to contain Methamphetamine.

  After processing, Rella was released on summonses charging her with littering and Disorderly Conduct. Trella was also released on summonses charging him with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), drug paraphernalia, failure to turn over CDS, hindering apprehension, obstruction and criminal mischief. He also received summonses for the motor vehicle violations, including possession of a CDS in a motor vehicle.

  On July 19, the SCU pulled over a car in the area of Brick Blvd. and York Town Plaza. The passenger, Clifton Tancemore, 38, from Brick, had an outstanding warrant for his arrest out of Lavallette in the amount of $200. He was arrested and brought to Brick PD. After posting bail he was released. 

  On July 22, detectives observed suspicious activity in the parking lot of the Pleasure Zone. While watching a car, they discovered multiple violations and that the car was equipped with fictious license plates from Illinois. Officers arrested the driver, as Omar Aragon-Mendoza, 44, from Lakewood, and charged him with DWI. During the stop, detectives found a plastic bag containing a cocaine.

  Aragon-Mendoza was also charged with possession of CDS and paraphernalia. He was also issued traffic summonses for Reckless Driving, Careless Driving, Refusal to Submit to a Breath Test, Failure to Maintain Lane, Speeding, CDS in a Motor Vehicle, Failure to Provide a Driver’s License, Failure to Provide Insurance and Registration, Fictious License Plates, not wearing a seatbelt, Uninsured Motorist, Improper Passing and Driving with a Suspended Driver’s License. Aragon-Mendoza was processed and lodged in the Ocean County Jail.

  On July 23, detectives arrested Dajon Reid, 30, from Brick, after of a two-week narcotic related investigation suspected Reid was distributing heroin. He was charged with distributing CDS, and possession of CDS and paraphernalia. Police also seized an undisclosed sum of cash believed to be proceeds from the drug distribution. Reid was lodged in the Ocean County Jail.