Toms River- Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force collaborated with the Lacey Township Police Department Narcotics Unit, Lacey Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Brick Township Police Department Crime Reduction Unit, Toms River Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, to conduct an investigation into the distribution of narcotics in the Ocean County area. This cooperative, multi-agency investigation ultimately identified a residence in the Forked River section of Lacey Township as being utilized by Jason Close, 41, of Lacey Township, to store and distribute quantities of Methamphetamine.

During a surveillance operation on Close, law enforcement officers seized approximately 150 grams of Methamphetamine. A subsequent court-authorized search of Close’s residence resulted in the seizure of a quantity of marijuana, packaging material indicative of distribution purposes, and approximately $780 in cash.

Close was arrested and charged with Possession of More than Five Ounces of Methamphetamine with Possession and Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and other drug-related charges. Close is currently detained at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.