Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Taishaun Cosme, 24, of Brick, was arrested and charged on January 23, with Possession of Cocaine in an Amount Greater than One-Half Ounce with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Cocaine; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Possession of a Weapon while Committing a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offence; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; Possession of a Prohibited Weapon or Device; Cyber Harassment; and Disorderly Conduct.
Officials say on January 23, Detectives from the Barnegat Crime Reduction Unit advised the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force that a male was posting on Snapchat pictures of a firearm and a quantity of cash in his motor vehicle.
Further investigation involving the Ocean County Narcotics Strike Force, Barnegat Township Police Department, Brick Township Police Department, Lakewood Township Police Department, and Toms River Police Department revealed that the male was Cosme.
Using Snapchat’s geo-location function, Detectives were able to locate Cosme operating a motor vehicle in Lakewood. Detectives executed a motor vehicle stop of Cosme’s vehicle and subsequently obtained a court-authorized search warrant for the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle yielded a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun and several rounds of hollow-point bullets, as well as a significant amount of Cocaine, digital scale, and assorted paraphernalia indicative of drug distribution according to officials.
Cosme was taken into custody and is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail, pending a detention hearing.