LAKEHURST – What began as a routine traffic stop in Lakehurst ends with a slew of charges for a mother and daughter after cops find crack cocaine in their van.
Lakehurst Police said 63-year-old Deborah J. Kellum of Lakewood and her daughter 31-year-old Tarah T. Kellum of Point Pleasant were pulled over on Center Street and Route 70 when police saw the younger Kellum not wearing a seat belt.
Sergeant Matthew Kline initiated the stop on August 6 at 7:11 p.m. Kline also found the older Kellum sitting on the floor of the van and not in a seat.
A search of the Toyota Sienna turned up crack cocaine and two crack pipes.
During the course of questioning, Tarah allegedly lied to the officer by giving a fake name and false date of birth. They found she had two active Lakewood Municipal Court warrants and an Ocean County Superior Court warrant. Tarah was charged with posession of crack cocaine, posession of drug paraphernalia and hindering her own apprehension. She was lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a mandatory court appearance.
Deborah had an active warrant for her arrest from Jackson Municipal Court. She was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, issued a motor vehicle summons for riding on parts not intended and was arrest but later released pending a mandatory court appearance with both Lakewood and Jackson Municipal courts.
The public is reminded that all criminal charges are merely accusations and all subjects are innocent until proven guilty.
