By John Burton |
RED BANK – A routine traffic stop by a borough police officer last Wednesday evening netted a significant amount of illegal narcotics, thanks to the assistance of the department’s only four-legged officer.
According to the department, a patrol officer stopped a vehicle on Oakland Street at approximately 8:30 p.m. on June 7.
A rear seat passenger, later identified as Javhon Wells, allegedly fled the vehicle on foot carrying a black bag. While that officer was securing the vehicle and other passengers, another officer apprehended Wells in the area of the NJ Transit yard, Central Avenue. The officers then relied on the assistance of Hunter, the department’s K-9 officer, to scour the route taken by Wells.
During the search, police said Hunter located the black bag. Authorities said that bag contained 500 decks of heroin and seven large bags of marijuana. A search of Wells revealed he was allegedly carrying 81 bars of Xanax, for which Wells did not have a medical prescription.
RED BANK – A routine traffic stop by a borough police officer last Wednesday evening netted a significant amount of illegal narcotics, thanks to the assistance of the department’s only four-legged officer.
According to the department, a patrol officer stopped a vehicle on Oakland Street at approximately 8:30 p.m. on June 7.
A rear seat passenger, later identified as Javhon Wells, allegedly fled the vehicle on foot carrying a black bag. While that officer was securing the vehicle and other passengers, another officer apprehended Wells in the area of the NJ Transit yard, Central Avenue. The officers then relied on the assistance of Hunter, the department’s K-9 officer, to scour the route taken by Wells.
During the search, police said Hunter located the black bag. Authorities said that bag contained 500 decks of heroin and seven large bags of marijuana. A search of Wells revealed he was allegedly carrying 81 bars of Xanax, for which Wells did not have a medical prescription.
Xanax is a controlled substance that is prescribed to treat anxiety and panic disorders.
Police charged Wells, a 30-year-old Long Branch resident, with three counts each of possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS); possession of CDS with intent to distribute; and possession of CDS with intent to distribute in a school zone. Police also charged Wells with resisting arrest by flight and trespassing.
Wells was taken to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold.
The department initiated its K-9 unit in early 2015. Hunter, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois, is currently the department’s only K-9 officer. The department was able to acquire Hunter and the K-9 unit’s vehicle through a grant from a private foundation and through additional funding from the local Police Benevolent Association.
Police charged Wells, a 30-year-old Long Branch resident, with three counts each of possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS); possession of CDS with intent to distribute; and possession of CDS with intent to distribute in a school zone. Police also charged Wells with resisting arrest by flight and trespassing.
Wells was taken to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold.
The department initiated its K-9 unit in early 2015. Hunter, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois, is currently the department’s only K-9 officer. The department was able to acquire Hunter and the K-9 unit’s vehicle through a grant from a private foundation and through additional funding from the local Police Benevolent Association.
This article was first published in the June 16-June 23, 2017 print edition of The Two River Times.
