Forked River Woman Arrested by Toms River Police

Toms River Police arrested Lisa Barker, 40, of Forked River at a Seward Avenue, Toms River home on Feb. 25. Barker was charged with possession of a hypodermic needle and released on a summons, Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said.

Barker was one of several arrests involving heroin that was made by Toms River police throughout the township since Friday.

A downtown Toms River resident was arrested at home Friday night after a month long drug investigation and subsequent search warrant allegedly turned up heroin and hypodermic needles, police said.

But after Eric Furmanek, 28, of Seward Avenue in Toms River was arrested and charged with possession and intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, police said he complained of stomach pains while at police headquarters and was transported to Community Medical Center. Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said Furmanek had apparently swallowed 15 bags of heroin when police raided the home.

The police chief added that DYFS is assisting in the investigation because there were two children in the Seward Avenue home — a 7-year-old girl and a 1-year-old boy.

Mastronardy said the Special Enforcement Team conducted the investigation on Seward Avenue after numerous complaints about drug trafficking in the area. Police are asking anyone who has information on suspected narcotics activity to call Sgt. Shaun O’Keeffe at 732-349-0150 ext 1272.

Police also made an arrest in the Pleasant Plains section of Toms River at 1 p.m. Monday at a gas station and convenience store on Route 9.

At 1 p.m.  Monday, Officer Mark DeGrandis responded to a suspicious person call at the Wawa at Route 9 and Stevens Road, Mastronardy said.  When the officer requested identification from a motorist, the driver responded “OK,” opened up the center console of his pickup truck and allegedly revealed 73 wax folds of heroin, said the chief.

Dominick Piacentino, 25, of Neal Place in Manchester, was arrested and is charged with possession with intent to distribute. Officers Stephen Austin and Brian Jarka assisted in the arrest.