Monthlong Investigation Leads to 98 Arrests

COURT HOUSE – County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor and Chief Steven Long of the Wildwood Police Department announced the conclusion of a one month long collaborative Narcotics Enforcement Initiative to help disrupt the flow of heroin and other illegal controlled dangerous substances in the City of Wildwood. This initiative involved detectives and patrol officers from the Wildwood Police Department, detectives from the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Gangs, Guns, and Narcotics Task Force along with members of the Cape May County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit. As a result of this operation, 98 individuals were arrested for various narcotics related offenses.
According to Prosecutor Taylor, during the month of August, plain clothes detectives and officers targeted known high crime and high drug trafficking areas within the City of Wildwood, where citizens complained and several anonymous tips were received through the Cape May County Sheriffs Tip Line and Crime Stoppers Tip Line about open air drug distribution in the City.
During the operation, each of the organizations involved in this cooperative investigation worked together to covertly infiltrate and disrupt various drug distribution networks, especially those involved in the distribution of heroin and operating within the City of Wildwood. During the course of the operation, many of the arrests were a direct result of observations made by detectives and officers of individuals participating in open air drug transactions in and around these high crime and high drug trafficking areas within the City. Additionally, (8) Court Authorized Search Warrants were executed in the 200 East blocks of Garfield and Baker Avenues, which resulted in the seizure of various controlled dangerous substances ranging from heroin, prescription pills, cocaine, marijuana with an estimated street value of over $10,000.00.
Chief Long commented that as a result of the operation, the total number of arrests surpassed the total arrests of 54 previously recorded in the City during the entire month of August in 2012 making it an all around success for the City. Chief Long further commented that his department will continue to make a concerted effort to combat the drug issues within the City of Wildwood and rid the streets of these dangerous drugs and any and all individuals who participate in this type of illegal behavior. Chief Long also commended his detectives and patrol officers for their dedication and persistence as well as the members of the Task Force and Sheriff’s Office who participated in the operation. According to Prosecutor Taylor, the individuals arrested during this operation were charged with drug offenses ranging from Disorderly Persons Offenses to Second Degree Crimes. Persons convicted of second degree crimes may be sentenced between 5 and 10 years in New Jersey State Prison, persons convicted of third degree crimes may be sentenced between 3 and 5 years in prison, and fourth degree crimes carry a sentence of up to 18 months in State prison.
Prosecutor Taylor described this operation as a success, which helped to suppress illegal drug activity and clean up areas within the City of Wildwood. Prosecutor Taylor commended the cooperative effort of the Task Force along with the Wildwood Police Department and Cape May County Sheriff’s Office and vowed that his office will continue to work side by side with each Municipality within the County to aggressively seek out these individuals who repeatedly engage in this and any type and or any illegal activity within Cape May County. Prosecutor Taylor continues to urge the citizens of Cape May County to report any information regarding illegal drug activity and or any criminal activity within community and that this information can be reported anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriffs Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip, or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-465-2800 or 877-465-2801, Wildwood Police Department at 609-522-0222 and Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609- 465-1168.