Stafford Township, NJ - On Wednesday, August 13th, 2025 at approximately 6 PM, the Stafford Township Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) conducted a pedestrian stop at the Route 9 and McKinley Avenue bus stop on 45 year old Frank E. Britton of Locusts Street in Hammonton, NJ. During the course of the pedestrian stop, the DEU developed reasonable suspicion that Britton was possessing a controlled dangerous substance inside two backpacks that were in his possession. In addition, Detective Jackman Bush located a quantity of suspected heroin on the ground next to one of Britton's backpacks. Detective Zach Wiatrowski deployed his narcotic K-9 partner, Venus, to conduct an exterior sniff of the two backpacks. As a result, K-9 Venus gave a positive indication for the presence of narcotics odor on both backpacks. Both backpacks were seized pending the application of two court authorized search warrants. 

A search of Britton's person also revealed Britton was in possession of box cutter style knife and drug paraphernalia containing suspected crack/cocaine. 

Ultimately, Britton was arrested and charged with 2C:35-10A(1) Possession of Crack/Cocaine, 2C:35-10A(1) Possession of Heroin, 2C:39-7D Certain Persons Not To Have Weapon, and 2C:39-5D Possession Of A Weapon For An Unlawful Purpose, and 2C:36-2A Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. After being processed at Stafford Township Police Department, Britton was transported to Ocean County Jail awaiting a detention hearing by the Ocean County Superior Court. 

On August 15th , 2025, the DEU applied for and was granted two court authorized search warrants for the two backpacks. The DEU executed the two court authorized search warrants and recovered quantities of suspected heroin, gabapentin, and drug paraphernalia.  

Britton was then charged with 2C:35-10A(1) Possession of Heroin, 2C:35-10.5E(2) Possession of a Prescription Legend Drug Without a Prescription, 2C:35-10C Failure To Make Lawful Disposition Of Drugs, and two counts of 2C:36-2A Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

As a reminder, the Stafford Township Police Department does not release arrest photos of defendants. All individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.