What started as a traffic stop in Neptune City last Thursday ended with heroin, crack cocaine, a handgun, and cash headed for the evidence locker, according to prosecutors.
Authorities say a 45-year-old Ocean Township man was pulled over after a two-month surveillance operation. Detectives reported finding heroin, about 24 grams of crack cocaine, a Smith & Wesson .380 handgun loaded with hollow-point rounds, and roughly $1,800 in cash. They allege the driver tried to stash items in his pants and obstruct officers when ordered out of the vehicle.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced the arrest on Wednesday and said the case remains under investigation.
According to Daily Voice, detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office stopped the man after he left a residence in Neptune City on Thursday. They reportedly saw him trying to obscure items on his person, then placed him under arrest and searched the vehicle. The search turned up the heroin, the approximately 24 grams of crack cocaine, the loaded .380 handgun with hollow-point ammunition, and the cash, the outlet reports.
The suspect was identified as Harry Clayton, 45, and he was charged with multiple drugs- and weapons-related offenses, as well as tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice.
Seizures Fit A Larger Enforcement Push
Officials say this latest bust is part of a broader crackdown on drug distribution and related weapons offenses in Monmouth and Ocean counties. In recent years, multi-agency operations have led to sizable seizures and a steady stream of arrests.
One 2024 enforcement sweep led to 17 arrests and the recovery of hundreds of grams of fentanyl and cocaine, as reported by The Coaster. Local outlets such as WOBM have also documented similar drug finds during traffic stops in the region.
Charges And Next Steps
Billhimer told Daily Voice that Clayton faces indictable drug distribution charges and unlawful-weapon charges, along with counts of tampering with evidence and obstruction. Formal charging documents and arraignment details have not yet been released.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is handling the investigation, and additional information is expected to surface in court filings as the case moves forward. Authorities say anyone with information about illegal narcotics activity in the area should contact local law enforcement.
