Five people were arrested and drugs seized by police after a two-month investigation in East Brunswick.
EAST BRUNSWICK -- A two-month investigation into a drug distribution ring allegedly run by a township resident led to the arrests of five people last month, according to township police.
Police said when they executed the search warrant at a Dalston Street house in the early morning hours of May 17 that led to the arrests, they seized heroin, cocaine, various prescription pills, $5,000 in cash, a stun gun and a rifle.
Police said Friday morning the department's anti-crime unit, with the help of the department's SWAT, arrested Lazaro Ruiz, 46, on charges of possession of heroin, distribution of heroin, and possession and distribution of narcotics in a school zone.
Authorities said Ruiz was renting a room from Michael Rangel, 29, in a residence on Dalston Street. Rangel was also charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The others arrested included Samantha Miller, 32, of New Brunswick, who was charged with possession of heroin, distribution of heroin and possession and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance in a school zone; Angelica Nicastro, 29, of Clifton (originally from East Brunswick), charged with possession of heroin, distribution of heroin, and possession and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance in a school zone; and Phillip Painter, 31, of Staten Island, charged with heroin and possession of a hypodermic syringe.
Miller and Nicastro were remanded to the Middlesex County jail. Ruiz and Rangel are out on $100,000 bail and Painter was released on his own recognizance.
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