An undercover narcotics operation conducted early last year in Beverly City has resulted in the indictment of four residents on 59 total counts of illegal drug-related activity involving the possession and sale of cocaine, fentanyl, heroin and marijuana, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced.
The investigation by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Gang, Gun and Narcotics Task Force and the Beverly City Police Department revealed that a residence located at 231 C Broad Street was being used to sell drugs. The home was the location of numerous calls for police service, including suspected drug activity, weapons offenses, gambling, large crowds and disorderly persons offenses.
A search warrant was executed in March 2018 which led to the arrests of multiple people. Four of those individuals were indicted by a Burlington County Grand Jury on May 14, 2019.
The indictment was returned that day and signed by Prosecutor Coffina. An arraignment will be scheduled soon in Superior Court in Mount Holly.
Those who were indicted include Charles C. Tallmadge Jr., 58, who lived at the residence being investigated, Derrick Bell, 27, of the Delacove Homes in Beverly City, Robert J. Hawkins, 49, of the 500 block of Cooper Street in Beverly City, and Davaughn J. Whitfield-Gaines, 21, of the 300 block of Third Street in Beverly City.
All four defendants were indicted for Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, as well of multiple other offenses. The majority of the indicted drug charges were third degree offenses.
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.
An indictment is merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.