Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Beverly City Public Safety Director Rich Wolbert announced that four people were arrested earlier this month in connection with drug activity following the execution of a search warrant at a home in the 200 block of Broad Street in Beverly City.
During the investigation that preceded the search, it was determined that Derrick Bell, 27, was distributing crack cocaine from his residence at 231 Broad Street.
Bell was taken into custody on October 4 and charged with Possession of Crack Cocaine (Third Degree), Possession of Crack Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (Third Degree), Possession of Crack Cocaine with Intent to Distribute within 1,000 feet of a School (Third Degree), Possession of Crack Cocaine with Intent to Distribute within 500 feet of a Public Park or Housing (Third Degree), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Disorderly Persons Offense) and Resisting Arrest (Disorderly Persons Offense). Bell was detained by a Superior Court judge and lodged in the Burlington County Jail.
Three other individuals living at the Broad Street residence were arrested on Disorderly Persons offenses.
Whitney Mercantini, 30, was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Charles Tallmadge, 57, was charged with Maintaining a Nuisance, and Cindy Tallmadge, 57, was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Maintaining a Nuisance. The Tallmadges are alleged to have allowed Bell to live with them and sell drugs from the residence.
The investigation was conducted by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Gang, Gun and Narcotics Task Force and the Beverly City Police Department. The Edgewater Park Police Department and the New Jersey State Police T.E.A.M.S. Unit (Technical Emergency and Mission Specialists) provided assistance executing the search warrant and taking the defendants into custody.
All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.