Barnegat Police Arrest Six Residents On Drug Charges After Motor Vehicle Stop

Six Barnegat residents are facing numerous drug charges after police found heroin and prescription drugs during a motor vehicle stop, police said.

Members of the Barnegat Police Narcotics Unit arrested Ryan Semmens, 19, William Semmens, 20, Ashley Davis, 24, Joseph Barton, 48, Nancy Torres, 47 and Douglas Vandevelde, 42, at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 25.

Detectives were conducting surveillance in the area of Tiller Drive in response to numerous complaints from residents about drug dealing in the area. They stopped William Semmens' 2008 Toyota Scion on a motor vehicle violation after he left his Tiller Drive home, police said.

Police found heroin and the prescription drug Alprazolam when they searched the car. Ryan Semmens, Barton and Davis were arrested at the scene, police said.

Detectives went back to Semmens' Tiller Drive home and recovered 95 individual packaged units of heroin, Alprazolam and $900 in cash. They arrested Vandevelde, Torres, and William Semmens at the house, police said.

Barnegat officers were assisted by members of the Ocean Township Police Department (Waretown).

Ryan Semmens was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and distribution of heroin.  William Semmens was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and distribution of heroin.  Ashley Davis was charged with possession of heroin, and possession of Alprazolam, said police.

Davis - who had her seven-year-old son in the car at the traffic stop - was also charged with fourth degree child neglect, police said.

Joseph Barton was charged with possession of heroin and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. Vandevelde was charged with possession of heroin and possession of Alprazolam. He also had a $500 warrant out of Long Beach Township, police said.

Vandevelde was lodged in the Ocean County Jail in default of bail. The other parties were released pending a court date.