Police say on December 31st, New Year’s Eve, at approximately 12:20 P.M., Street Crimes Unit Detectives observed a suspected hand to hand drug transaction in the parking lot of the WaWa 116 Brick Blvd.
Police say after the two subjects, Mr. Edwardo Lopez, 57, of Berkley Township) and Mr. Ryan Chapman, 39, of Howell, completed the transaction, they returned to their respective vehicles.
One of the detectives approached the vehicle that Chapman entered, a 2008 blue Honda Civic, while other Detectives followed Lopez’s car, a 2018 black Honda Accord, out of the parking lot to stop it.
Police said when detectives approached the blue Honda Civic, they observed Chapman about to inject drugs into his arm with a syringe.
The detective identified himself to Chapman, and at that point, the driver of the vehicle, Ms. Jill Farrelly, 38, of Howell, sped away.
The side-view mirror on the passenger’s side of the vehicle caught the Detective’s clothing and dragged him for over ten feet before he was flung off. Meanwhile, other Detectives had stopped Lopez’s car.
The Detective who received minor injuries was able to call out a vehicle description over the radio. Ptl. Rob Scelfo was in the area and quickly located the suspect vehicle.
Farrelly and Chapman were taken into custody, and the vehicle was impounded. The Detectives who stopped the black Honda Accord found numerous drugs and paraphernalia in the vehicle.
Lopez and his two occupants, Mr. Robert Brennan Jr., 47, of Whiting and Ms. Alisha Yuhas, 28, Toms River, were also arrested.
Ryan Chapman was charged with Possession of Heroin and Paraphernalia, Conspiracy to Commit Eluding Resulting in Bodily Injury to the Officer, Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault to an Officer, Tampering with Evidence, Obstructing the Administration of Law, and Conspiracy to Commit Assault by Auto.
Jill Farrelly was charged with Possession of Heroin and Paraphernalia, Eluding Resulting in Bodily Injury to the Officer, Aggravated Assault to an Officer, Tampering with Evidence, Obstructing the Administration of Law, Assault by Auto and multiple motor vehicle violations.
Robert Brennan Jr. was charged with Possession of Heroin, Crack, Hypodermic Needles and Paraphernalia.
Edwardo Lopez was charged with Possession of Heroin and Paraphernalia and motor vehicle violations.
Alisha Yuhas was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
All five subjects were lodged into Ocean County Jail.
The Detective who got dragged by Farrelly and Chapman suffered deep contusions to his back, along with some bumps and scrapes. He was treated at Ocean Medical Center and released. He has not returned to work at this time.
Chief Riccio would like to commend the dedicated officers of the Street Crimes Unit as well as the members of the patrol division and detective bureau who were able to quickly make the apprehension without further incident.