Two Arrested, One Sought After Jackson Drug Raid Involving SWAT, Lakewood And Jackson PD

swat raidAuthorities arrested two men and seized two ounces of cocaine, 30 bags of heroin and $5,000 in cash from a Denmark Lane home Friday. A third man fled the scene and is being sought by police, authorities said. The man still at large is Daniel Thomas, 23, of Denmark Lane, a former Lakewood man who was a cooperating witness in the notorious 2006 gang-related, execution-style murder of a man in a crowded barbershop there. In addition to charges from Friday’s raid, Thomas also has outstanding charges of possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute under one-half ounce and distribution of cocaine, Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford said.

On Friday, authorities arrested and charged William Brown, 34, also of Denmark Lane, and Shawn Nelson, 34, of Liberty Street, Freehold, after executing a serarch warrant at the Denmark Lane home were Thomas and Brown live. Each man, as well as Thomas, was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine over one half-ounce with the intent to distribute, possession of heroin, possession of less than one-half ounce of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia, a digital scale and packaging materials, Ford said.

Superior Court Judge James Den Uyl set bail for Brown and Nelson at $150,000 cash. Thomas, when taken into custody, will have to post $225,000 bail cash to be released, authorities said. Thomas’ bail was set by Superior Court Judge Wendel E. Daniels.

In the barbershop case, Thomas’ testimony contributed to the convictions of Tyleek Baker, James Russell and Jamell Scott in the murder of 21-year-old Jose Francisco Olivares in the now-defunct Man, Woman and Child barbershop on Feb. 7, 2006.

Thomas was also charged in connection with the murder of Athelma Vazquez, who was killed in what authorities said was a move to intimidate witnesses from testifying in the barbershop case. Thomas received a probationary term in exchange for his cooperation in the barbershop case.

Thomas was indicted in March and June of this year in unrelated drug charges in Lakewood, documents show.

The Denmark Lane raid followed a two-month investigation into drug activity in the county, Ford said.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group and Jackson and Lakewood police, Ford said.

The Ocean County Regional SWAT team and county Sheriff’s Department assisted in the warrant execution.

Authorities are asking for the public’s help in locating Thomas. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is asked to contact the Special Operations Group at 732-341-6150.

The investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected, Ford said. MARGARET F. BONAFIDE/APP.

This content, and any other content on TLS, may not be republished or reproduced without prior permission from TLS. Copying or reproducing our content is both against the law and against Halacha. To inquire about using our content, including videos or photos, email us at [email protected].

Stay up to date with our news alerts by following us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

**Click here to join over 20,000 receiving our Whatsapp Status updates!**

**Click here to join the official TLS WhatsApp Community!**

Got a news tip? Email us at [email protected], Text 415-857-2667, or WhatsApp 609-661-8668.

8 COMMENTS

  1. why is this person walking the streets, makes no sence to me just because he rolled on a few idiots hes out on probation to do something like this or maybe worse. Our justice system needs a huge over haul.

Comments are closed.