Stafford Township, NJ - On Saturday, January 24th, 2026 at approximately 12:30 PM, the Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) conducted a motor vehicle stop in the Atlantic Care parking lot located at 517 Route 72, Manahawkin, NJ. The vehicle was operated by 44-year-old Ryan S. Bannon of Webb Avenue in Ocean Grove, NJ, with front seat passenger 37-year-old Katherine M. Smith of Circle Drive in Brick, NJ. During the course of the motor vehicle stop, Bannon was arrested for an active outstanding no bail warrant issued by Monmouth County Superior Court. In addition, Detective Jackman Bush developed reasonable suspicion that Bannon and Smith were possessing a controlled dangerous substance inside the vehicle.  Detective Zach Wiatrowski deployed his narcotic K-9 partner, Venus, who gave a positive indication for the presence of narcotics odor coming from within the vehicle. The vehicle was seized pending the application of a court authorized search warrant. Smith was released from the scene. 

On Saturday, January 24th, 2026, at approximately 5:00PM, the DEU applied for and was granted a court authorized search warrant for the vehicle. The DEU executed the court authorized search warrant and recovered a quantity of suspected crack/cocaine.  

Ultimately, Smith refused to turn herself in and was charged on a complaint warrant for 2C:35-10A(1) possession of crack/cocaine (3rd degree crime). 

Bannon was charged with 2C:35-10A(1) possession of crack/cocaine (3rd degree crime). After being processed at Stafford Township Police Department, Bannon was transported to Ocean County Jail awaiting a detention hearing by the Ocean County Superior Court.

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.