Two Long Branch men have been charged with various drug offenses and assaulting an Ocean Township police officer following a motor vehicle stop Jan. 17.
Police said at approximately 12:35 a.m. Police Officer Dean Schoch performed a motor vehicle stop on Route 35 in the area of Sunset Avenue. Contact was made with the driver of the vehicle, Hassan Foster, 24, and the passenger, Kaylib Paul, 20, both of Long Branch.
Schoch determined that the vehicle was being operated without a valid registration or valid insurance. During the stop, he also noticed a prescription bottle within the vehicle which belonged to neither of the occupants of the vehicle.
Police Officers Arthur Barnek and Anthony Bartolomei arrived to assist Schoch. During the on scene investigation being conducted by officers, both Foster and Paul fled the location on foot. Officers pursued and were able to apprehend Foster a short distance away. During the foot pursuit Officer Barnek sustained a serious head injury and was later taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he remains in stable condition.
Paul was not located at that time and a K9 track was later conducted by Monmouth County Sheriff’s Officer Kurt Kroeper and K9 Skye. The search yielded negative results.
Additional on scene investigation, revealed that a loaded 9mm firearm was located within the vehicle. The firearm was loaded with a large capacity magazine and it was found that the serial number of the firearm had been defaced. Also located within the vehicle was the prescription bottle of a “Promethazine Hydrochloride” which belonged to a third party, and under 50 grams of marijuana.
Foster was ultimately processed and charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a defaced firearm, possession of a large capacity magazine, possession of a schedule 5 narcotic and under fifty grams of marijuana, resisting arrest and aggravated assault of a police officer and various motor vehicle offenses. He was later remanded to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending an initial court appearance.
On Jan. 18 officers from the US Marshall’s NY/NJ Fugitive Task Force and detectives from the Ocean Township Police Department were able to locate Paul and take him into custody. Paul was processed and charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a defaced firearm, possession of a large capacity magazine, possession of a schedule 5 narcotic and under fifty grams of marijuana, resisting arrest and aggravated assault of a police officer. He was later remanded to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending an initial court appearance.
