Police: Repeat Offender Swallowed Narcotics While Resisting Arrest

A Forked River man was charged with several drug offenses after police witnessed a hand-to-hand transaction, police said.

Charles Dekker, 43, was allegedly witnessed in what was suspected to be a drug-related transaction in a local commercial parking lot on Wednesday, Nov. 21, police said.

As officers approached the two suspects, one attempted to flee on foot.

During Dekker’s arrest, police found an empty prescription bottle that originally contained Oxycodone. Dekker swallowed an unknown amount of narcotics while physically resisting arrest, police said.

Dekker was charged with possession of Oxycodone, distribution of Oxycodone, distribution within a school zone, tampering with evidence and resisting arrest.

He was sent to the Ocean County Jail with cash bail set at $50,000.

Four of the five charges carry a penalty of three to five years of incarceration.

Dekker was previously indicted in September 2011 for hindering efforts by police to arrest Charles Dekker, 22, of Forked River by giving false information to authorities.