Crime & Safety
Ocean County Pair Charged With Leaving Children In Squalor, Using Heroin
The condition of the residence included a refrigerator containing rotting and spoiled food, trash and soiled clothing found throughout the residence, as well as drug paraphernalia. Evidence of drug use was found near where children played
Two Manahawkin residents were arrested Thursday and charged with using heroin near their children, and leaving them in a filthy house that was unsafe for human habitation, police said.
The condition of the residence included a refrigerator containing rotting and spoiled food, and trash and soiled clothing found throughout the residence, as well as drug paraphernalia. Evidence of drug use was also found in close proximity to where the children played.
According to Stafford police:
On Thursday March 12, 2014 the Stafford Township Police Department in conjunction with the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Special Victims Unit arrested 41 year old Ian Schwester and 36 year old Christina Bicki of Nautilus Drive in Manahawkin on four counts of 2nd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The arrests stemmed from an on-going investigation initiated by Stafford Police Patrol Officers on February 12, 2014.
On 2/12/14, the Stafford Township Police Department responded to the home of Schwester and Bicki on Nautilus Drive in reference to a welfare check of a 1 year old female child. Officers arrived on scene and found the home to be in deplorable condition, unfit for children. The one year old child was found unharmed in fair condition in the basement of the residence.
The child’s grandfather, who was the only adult on scene, stated that he could not locate the children’s parents who reside at the residence. The children, which in addition to the 1 year old girl include an 8 year old boy, 11 year old girl and 14 year old girl, were removed from the residence and relocated to foster care by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency.
Detective Drew Smith of the Stafford Township Police Department, along with Detective Anthony Paciulli of the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Special Victim’s Unit, conducted a further investigation which revealed that the parents were using and distributing a significant quantity of heroin out of the residence while the four children were present. The mother, Christina Bicki, and the father, Ian Schwester, were lodged in Ocean County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail each with a pending court appearance in Ocean County Superior Court. The children are staying with temporary foster families until more permanent arrangements can be made.
The children are in dire need of new clothing and food. As such, Stafford PBA Local 297 Civic Association has started a collection for the children in the form of gift cards. Anyone wishing to donate a gift card to the children may drop the donation directly at Stafford Police Headquarters at 260 E. Bay Ave., or mail a gift card or donation to Stafford PBA Local 297, P.O. Box 746, Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050.
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