A motor vehicle stop conducted by members of the Manchester Township Police Narcotics Enforcement Team resulted in the seizure of a quantity of heroin and crack cocaine which was found concealed underneath of the driver’s 19 month old child.

On Monday, January 25, 2016, at approximately 5:30 pm, the Manchester Township Police Narcotics Enforcement Team conducted a motor vehicle stop on a 2001 BMW in the area of Route 571 near Ridgeway Boulevard for a motor vehicle violation. During the stop, the officers determined that the driver of the vehicle, 26 year old Tara Worthy of Kettle Creek Road in Toms River, was driving with a suspended driver’s license.

The vehicle was also occupied by a front seat passenger, 21 year old Shayla Solis of Teamer Drive in Manahawkin. Solis also had a suspended driver’s license and was not able to assume responsibility for driving the car.  While on the traffic stop, officers determined that Worthy had concealed a small hand bag underneath of her seat.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the hand bag that Worthy had concealed contained drug paraphernalia associated with heroin use. A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of the drug paraphernalia and a hypodermic needle.

Both Worthy and Solis were placed under arrest and transported to Manchester Police Headquarters.  Worthy’s 19 month old child was also transported to police headquarters using the child safety seat which was taken out of the BMW by Worthy. While at headquarters, the child was removed from the child safety seat at which time officers recovered heroin, crack cocaine and other drug paraphernalia.

The child was soon after turned over to the custody of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency at Manchester Police Headquarters. As a result of the investigation, Worthy was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, possession of heroin, possession of crack cocaine, hindering apprehension and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bail was set at $50,000.00 and she was later transported to Ocean County Jail.

Solis was charged with possession of a hypodermic needle and she was later released on a complaint summons.

Also assisting with this investigation was the Ocean County Sheriff’s Officer Michael Fiorentino and his K-9, Utah.