Neighborhood heroin house dismantled, police say

Ten more people looking to buy heroin were arrested at the scene.

GLOUCESTER TWP. -- A two-month-long "intense investigation" into suspected drug sales from a Blackwood apartment culminated late Tuesday afternoon with a raid on the unit and the arrest of 10 people looking to buy heroin, township police say.

Eric M. Bowman Jr., a 21-year-old Lindenwold man, Brittany Mealey, 26, of Blackwood, and Francis Baptiste, 23, of Blackwood, were all busted on a handful of drug distribution and possession charges as a result of the raid at Fairways Apartments.

According to police, more than 250 bags of heroin, an undisclosed amount of marijuana, a quantity of fentanyl patches and 118 prescription pills were discovered during the search of the apartment. Further, police say $12,000 in cash "was seized from the suspected drug dealers."

Bowman and Baptiste were both sent to the Camden County Correctional Facility on $200,000 full-cash bail each. Mealey was charged and released pending a future court date.

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"The arrest of these individuals is another example of the enforcement campaigns targeting those who illegally distribute narcotics in Gloucester Township," police said in a news release, adding that the department "will continue to attack the abuse and sale of these highly addictive narcotics in our community."

A 16-year-old male was also arrested at the scene and released to his parents pending charges. The township police department's community relations bureau went door to door in the apartment complex to inform residents of the incident and offer crime prevention strategies.

Police say that 10 more people were arrested at the scene as they allegedly arrived to buy heroin. However, authorities provided them with resources regarding the township's SAVE advocate program that targets drug addiction.

According to information provided by police, nine were Camden County residents with the remaining person hailing from Deptford, in Gloucester County.

Readers seeking more information on drug addiction prevention are encouraged to call the Gloucester Township SAVE Advocate at 856-302-7051.