Big Drug Bust In Toms River
Just when you thought your neighborhood was safe, a story like this pops up.
We all know drugs are everywhere! We try to shield our children from things that could cause them harm.
With the border wide open and no one vetting all these people coming into our country, it’s hard to figure out which folks are real asylum seekers looking for a better life, and which ones are here to sell drugs to our children and other nefarious crimes.
This morning I read a story of a big drug bust in my town, not too far from where I live.
(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
A major investigation involving several law enforcement agencies from Ocean County and beyond, were involved in making a huge drug bust in Toms River.
These investigations along with a ton of surveillance led to the arrest of two men and the seizure of nearly 1500 doses of heroin and fentanyl, along with several grams of cocaine.
According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s office, Jireh Mathis, 27, and Tashawn McDonald, 23, both from Trenton, were arrested at the Green Meadows Apartment complex in Toms River after over a month of surveillance.
According to an article in the Toms River Shorebeat, Investigators in early December 2023, established “stationary and mobile surveillance” on both Mathis and McDonald.
On Jan. 22, 2024, detectives allegedly observed Mathis and McDonald arriving at the Green Meadows Apartment Complex in Toms River in a vehicle operated by Mathis.
Mathis and McDonald both exited the vehicle, at which point they were approached by detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force.
As detectives approached Mathis, he attempted to make a run for it, but was later apprehended and taken into custody. “McDonald was taken into custody without incident.
According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, A search after Mathis’s arrest found that Mr. Mathis had about 500 wax folds of heroin/fentanyl and 10 grams of cocaine.
In total, authorities seized about 1,500 wax folds of heroin/fentanyl and 25 grams of cocaine throughout the course of the investigation.
According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s press release, Mathis was charged with possession of more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of heroin, conspiracy to distribute more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine, possession of heroin, possession of cocaine, and resisting arrest, the prosecutor’s office said.
Mathis is being held in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River pending trial.
(Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for UNITAS)
McDonald was charged with conspiracy to distribute more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of heroin, and conspiracy to distribute more than one-half ounce but less than 5 ounces of cocaine, the prosecutor’s office said.
McDonald was released on a summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court, the prosecutor’s office said.
Thanks to every member of all the law enforcement agencies involved for working around the clock to make these busts possible. Thank you for keeping our streets just a little bit safer.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office reminds us: The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
