February 11, 2004

SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT SEIZES $100,000 IN
POWDER COCAINE DURING BI-STATE DRUG BUST   

Trenton, NJ — Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. announced that his office’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), under the command of Lt. Bill Straniero, concluded a three-month investigation yesterday with the seizure of more than two pounds of powder cocaine.

            According to Prosecutor Bocchini, the SIU began an investigation targeting Carrie Mae Ward, 32, of Plaza Boulevard, Morrisville, Pa., approximately three months ago.  The investigation revealed that Ward, who is employed by Princeton University as a food service worker, would finish work at about 3:30 p.m. and proceed into Trenton to make drop-offs. 

At approximately 4:45 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, detectives arrested Ward at the corner of Lamberton and Cass streets.  Moments before her arrest, Ward was parked in her gray Mercury Marquis and a second individual approached the car with $135 in hand.  The individual, later identified as Alberto Luis Martinez, 30, of the 600 block of Lamberton Street, Trenton, threw the cash through the open rear window of Ward’s car as detectives approached.  Both suspects were taken into custody.  Ward was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with the intent to distribute, possession with the intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a school, possession with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of a park and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.  Superior Court Judge Maria M. Sypek set bail in the amount of $250,000 for Ward, who is being held at the Mercer County Correction Center.  Martinez was charged with loitering and released on his own recognizance.

The Mercury Marquis was seized along with 10 prepackaged bags of powder cocaine, totaling 38 grams, and $600 in cash.

Subsequent to Ward’s arrest, the SIU coordinated with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and the Morrisville Police Department in order to obtain warrants to search her apartment.  At the Plaza Boulevard residence, officers located a safe in Ward’s bedroom closet, hidden under clothing, which contained a gallon-size Ziploc freezer bag filled with more than two pounds of powder cocaine, three scales, packaging materials and a small quantity of marijuana.

Straniero stated that the powder cocaine seized, totaling just under a kilogram, is high quality and has an approximate street value of $100,000. 

Bocchini extended his thanks to Deputy Chief Chris Macteer of the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and the new chief of the Morrisville Police Department, Jack Jones.  “The level of cooperation displayed by these agencies is the reason our office can conduct successful investigations such as this,” he stated.

Members of the Trenton Police Department Vice Enforcement Unit, the Lawrence and Princeton Township Police Departments, and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office also assisted in the investigation.

Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.