TOMS RIVER-Although Toms River paid $5,000,000 to purchase and demolish the Red Roof Inn, the hotel drug problem appears to have just shifted elsewhere. That became evident last Friday when Toms River Police concluded a month-long investigation into a drug distribution operation operating out of The Rest Inn Motel just a few miles away from the former site of the Red Roof Inn.
On Friday, September 20, 2019, the Toms River Police Department Special Enforcement Team concluded a month long investigation into the distribution of heroin within the Township. As a result, members of the SET team executed search warrants on a hotel room at The Rest Inn Motel, 2015 Route 37 East, an apartment located on Route 37, and on a motor vehicle being utilized during the narcotics distribution. These search warrant executions resulted in the arrest of Dowann J. Smith, 27 of Ocean Township. Mr. Smith was found to be in possession of approximately 27 bricks (1,350 doses) of heroin, a Taurus .380 handgun, a small amount of marijuana, CDS paraphernalia and $715.00 in U.S. currency. Authorities estimate the street value of the heroin seized at over $5,000.00.
Mr. Smith was charged with possession of heroin, possession of over one half ounce of heroin with the intent to distribute (second degree), possession of a handgun during a CDS offense (second degree), possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose (second degree), possession of a handgun without a valid permit, possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of CDS paraphernalia.
Mr. Smith is currently being held at the Ocean County Jail awaiting a detention hearing.