Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced today the culmination of a cooperative multi-agency investigation into drug activity in South Toms River and the Manitou Park section of Berkeley Township.
On Thursday, November 21, 2019, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, South Toms River Police Department, and Berkeley Township Police Department were conducting a street level crime suppression detail in Manitou Park and South Toms River.
Surveillance units observed James Bivins, 26, of South Toms River, meet up with another individual. A subsequent motor vehicle stop of Bivins revealed that he was in possession of approximately five grams of Crack Cocaine, 320 wax folds of Heroin, a loaded .40 caliber Taurus Semi-Automatic Handgun, and $1400.00 in cash.
As a result, Bivins was arrested and charged with: Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3); Possession of Heroin in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3); Possession of Cocaine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1); Possession of Cocaine and Heroin with Intent to Distribute Within 1000 Feet of School Property in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7a; Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); Possession of a Weapon During the Course of a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offense in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1a; Being a Certain Person Not to Have Weapons in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7a; and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1). Bivins is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Billhimer would like to commend the Ocean County Narcotics Strike Force, Berkeley Township Police Department Patrol Division and Detective Bureau, and South Toms River Police Department Detective Bureau and K-9 Unit for their collaborative efforts in this investigation resulting in Bivins’ arrest.
The public and the media are reminded that all defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.