Pubdate: Fri, 10 Dec 2004
Source: Ocean County Observer (NJ)
Copyright: 2004 Ocean County Observer
Contact:  http://www.injersey.com/observer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1212
Author: Brenden Shur, Staff Writer
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors
may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who have not been
convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise public figures or
officials.

COPS: COUNTY WORKER HAD CRACK PIPE

LAKEHURST -- A county employee who allegedly left her children home alone
and was found to be in possession of a crack pipe was arrested Wednesday on
endangering and drug charges, police said.

[delete], was being held in Ocean County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail with
no 10 percent option yesterday. She has been a senior clerk in the Ocean
County Clerk's Office since 1999, said Keith Goetting, county human
resources director.

According to a police press release, authorities initially responded
to [delete] residence after receiving a complaint that her two
children, ages 8 and 11, were being left home alone on a regular
basis, sometimes overnight.

Police said they went to the home at about 7:30 p.m. and found the two
children, who had been alone for several hours. Neither child had
eaten since lunch and the house was in "complete disarray," police
said. Police called the Division of Youth and Family Services and
Investigators Colleen Lynch and Jason Steele of the Ocean County
Prosecutor's Office Family Protection Unit, police said.

While police were at the residence, [delete] returned home and then
tried to flee in a car, police said. She was stopped less than a block
from her home by Patrolman Edward Giglio, police said. While police
were taking her into custody for endangering the welfare of a
child, she was found to be in possession of a crack pipe, police said.

That discovery, as well as other observations, led police to obtain a
search warrant, after which they discovered drugs, suspected to be
crack or heroin, and a handgun, police said.

She was arrested on two counts of endangering, possession of a
controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and
being under the influence of drugs, police said. Her bail initially
was set at $50,000 but was reduced to $15,000 by Superior Court Judge
James N. Citta.

Getting said [delete] has been suspended without pay from her $24,297
annual salary pending the outcome of the charges.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin