Heroin, cocaine, cash, submachine gun seized in Jackson, Lakewood raids

Five drug suspects are arrested, and four of them jailed, following raids in Lakewood and Jackson that reportedly yielded heroin, cocaine, a submachine gun and tens of thousands of dollars in cash.

Sherod A. Coleman, 32, of Lakewood, and Sabrina H. Henderson, 34, and Diane E. Hunt, 53, of Brick Township, face five drug and weapons counts. Both were placed in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River. Bail for Coleman was set at $200,000. Bail for Henderson and Hunt was set at $50,000 each.

Also jailed on drug possession charges is Michael A. Lewis, 31, of Jackson, who also faces a count of eluding a police officer. Lewis's bail is set at $125,000.

Megan L. Crudup, 24, of Jackson, was charged with marijuana possession and released on a summons.

According to the office of Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato, the September 1 raids and arrests culminated two months of multi-jurisdictional drug investigations in the county.

It entailed the county Special Operations Group, northern and southern divisions, the county Sheriff's department, the Lakewood Police Street Crimes Unit and SWAT team, and Jackson police.

Authorities focused on an Aradia Court home in Jackson and a Davina Court dwelling in Lakewood, suspected of being heroin distribution points, and a 2014 Chevrolet Impala, 2009 Nissan Maxima, and 2015 Honda Civic as means of delivery.

Equipped with a no-knock warrant for both addresses, investigators seized about 6,250 doses of heroin, plus cocaine, marijuana, prescription pills and steroids, more than $90,000 cash, and a MAC 10 submachine gun, authorities said

Lewis was pulled over in the Nissan on Route 9 at Chestnut Street in Lakewood, and briefly tried fleeing the traffic stop before braking a short distance away, authorities said. Investigators reported recovering about 1,800 doses of heroin and a quantity of cocaine.

Officers moving in on the Jackson dwelling accosted and arrested Crudup as she was leaving. Inside, authorities said, they found steroids, prescription pills, marijuana and about $20,000 cash.

While the Jackson search was under way, detectives at the Davina Court home in Lakewood intercepted the Honda containing Coleman, Henderson and Hunt, finding about 450 doses of heroin, the firearm and a high-capacity magazine inside. Lakewood officers searching the house seized abuot $2,400 cash.

In the course of the probe, detectives homed in on a safety deposit box belonging to Lewis, believed to hold drug money. Authorities did not identify the bank, but said that on September 2, investigators recovered about $70,000 from the box.

All three cars were seized pending forfeiture proceedings.

Criminal charges are accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless, and until, found guilty in a court of law.