By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Atlantic County announced that on March 8, Michael John James, 30, Somers Point, was ordered to be detained in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
Officials stated on multiple gun and drug charges stemming from an investigation conducted at his residence in Somers Point by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Gangs, Guns, and Narcotics Unit, the Somers Point Police Department, the Office of Homeland Security, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms.
On February 27, 2024, police arrested the defendant without incident at his residence on the 100 block of Colwick Drive, officials said.
At the time of arrest, the defendant possessed distribution-level quantities of prescription pills, including Alprazolam and Diazepam, officials say.
According to officials, with the assistance of the Atlantic County Regional SWAT team and the Atlantic City Bomb Squad, police seized multiple firearms, ammunition, explosives, and other evidence from the defendant’s residence.
Officials stated the defendant is charged on a complaint warrant with the following crimes: Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm in the Course of Committing a CDS Crime, Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun, and Unlawful Possession of an Assault Rifle.
Authoriries say the investigation is ongoing at this time.
Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds credits the safe execution of this search warrant with the skill and experience of the Atlantic County Regional SWAT team and the Atlantic City Bomb Squad, “This investigation is the result of hard work and great cooperation among many law enforcement agencies,” Reynolds said.
“That work will continue to ensure that this case is charged and prosecuted thoroughly, and our agency will keep up its aggressive pursuit throughout Atlantic County of illegal drugs, illegal weapons, and the deadly combination of the two."