WILDWOOD CREST – Police Officer Tyler Lavender called upon his K-9, Quest, twice in less than a week, resulting in arrests for drugs and other charges.

On Thursday, May 9, Lavender conducted a motor vehicle stop in the area of Morning Glory Road and Ocean Avenue. According to a press release issued by the Wildwood Crest Police Department, Lavender had reasonable suspicion that the vehicle “contained evidence of criminal activity.”

He then deployed Quest to conduct a search of the exterior of the vehicle. After Quest indicated a positive presence of the odor of narcotics, police conducted a search of the vehicle and found distribution amounts of suspected crack cocaine, along with distribution paraphernalia and cash believed to be the proceeds from narcotics sales.

According to police, the driver, Dwayne Wakefield, 55, of Whitesboro, tried to discard evidence, which was discovered by officers.

Wakefield was charged with second-degree possession of more than a half-ounce of a controlled dangerous substance, crack cocaine, second-degree possession of a CDS within 500 feet of a public park, third-degree possession of more than a half-ounce of a CDS, third-degree money laundering, fourth-degree possession of CDS distribution paraphernalia and fourth-degree tampering with evidence.

He was lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Center.

Quest also was used in a traffic stop on May 3 in Wildwood Crest, resulting in an arrest for possession of methamphetamine, a BB gun, an expandable baton and burglary tools.

Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.