Crime & Safety

Trenton Dealer Charged With Drug-Induced Death Of Stafford Man

Wax folds stamped "Hello Kitty" found near Brendan Novak's body



A Trenton drug dealer is accused of causing the death of an 18-year-old Stafford Township man who was found with several wax folds of a powdery substance stamped "Hello Kitty" near his body, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said.

Coronato and Stafford Township Chief of Police Joseph Giberson announced the arrest of Dahmir A. Jones, 23, for the drug-induced death of Brendan Novak. Jones is the eighth individual to be charged under the strict liability statute in the Ocean County Prosecutor’s effort to hold dealers accountable and stem the tide of overdose deaths in Ocean County.

“We will relentlessly pursue those responsible for every overdose death in Ocean County, especially those who embellish their product with deadly additives,” Coronato said.  “My office will do everything possible to help those stricken by drug addictions, but will show no such kindness to dealers ignoring the tragic consequences of their actions.  At this point it should be abundantly clear to drug dealers that Ocean County is not a wise place to do business.”    

The investigation began on the morning of June 21, when Stafford police responded to a Breakers Drive home in Stafford on a report of a deceased male, Coronato said.

Officers found Novak unconscious and unresponsive lying face down on the floor of a bedroom in the residence, with no outward signs of trauma. MONOC EMS responded and Novak was pronounced dead at 10:13 a.m. by telemetry by physician from Newark Beth Israel Hospital.

Detectives found several empty wax folds indicative of packaging of a controlled dangerous substance along with several wax folds containing a white, powdery substance. The wax folds were stamped with the "Hello Kitty" character.

Subsequent testing of the powdery residue found it to be almost entirely composed of extremely toxic Fentanyl.  A warning by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office of the dangerous Fentanyl “Hello Kitty” product and the fact that dealers packaging and peddling pure Fentanyl will almost certainly cause death was quickly released to media and the public.     

Further investigation by Township Police Department determined Jones sold Novak the product which contributed to Brendan’s death.  Detectives were notified on July 16 that Novak died of a drug-induced death and had Fentanyl in his system, Coronato said.
    
Jones has been in lodged in the Mercer County Jail in lieu of $250,000 cash bail since his June 23 arrest on possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute. He was served his arrest warrant for the drug-induced death charge on Thursday, Coronato said

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, OCPO Special Operations Group and the Stafford Township Police Department, as well as, the Ocean County Sheriff's Department (CIU), Mercer County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Unit, and the New Jersey State Police all contributed to the investigation and arrest.   

Ocean County Overdose Statistics Update:  
2013: There were 71 overdose deaths for the period Jan 1 – July 18, 2013.
2014: There are 39 overdose deaths to date.

Ocean County has logged 60 Naloxone (Narcan) reversals to date.


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