Freehold Borough Police Report Successful Drug Arrests

An eight month investigation resulted in the execution of search and arrest warrants in Freehold Borough this week.

Lt. Michael Sweetman of the Freehold Borough Police Department reported that in April of 2013 the department began an investigation into the possibility of narcotics being sold from Salsa Borinquen Cafe on Throckmorton Street. The investigation, under the direction of Sgt. Christopher Otlowski with help from Dets. John Reiff and Rich Schwerthoffer and Ptl. James Richmond following complaints of drugs being sold from the establishment.

Sweetman said search warrants were obtained for the business, a vehicle involved in the sale of narcotics and for Juan Marco Ayala. On Monday members of the local department worked with the Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Unit, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Gang Unit and the Howell Township Police Department to serve the warrants and make two arrests.

During a search of the 26 Throckmorton property Sweetman said officers found 600 bags of heroin, approximately two ounces of cocaine, marijuana, a scale and money. Officers from the two municipalities then arrested Ayala, 41, and 45-year-old Angel Ayala at a residence on East 6th Street in Howell. A search of that location uncovered a sawed-off shotgun, more drugs and drug paraphernalia as well as a scale. Sweetman said between the two locations more than $9000 in cash was recovered.

The two people arrested were taken to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in lieu of bail which was set at $52,500 with no 10 percent option.

Chief Glenn Roberts said he was pleased with the results from the long standing investigation. “There was a tremendous amount of effort invested in this investigation and it yielded fantastic results,” he said. “The Prosecutor’s Office and the Howell Township Police Department were vital to this operation’s success.”