Car Search of Arrested Long Branch Man Yields Weed, Cocaine

A Long Branch man is facing several charges after his initial arrested resulted in a search of a car where officers found marijuana, cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

Tyshon Murray, 32, was pulled over by Long Branch Special Officer Gary Vecchione after he failed to stop a school bus stop signal on Broadway. Special Officer Vecchione was assisted by Officer Todd Coleman and Detective Bienvenido Cruz.

"Upon speaking to Murray, Special Officer Vecchione smelled a strong odor of raw marijuana in the car," Detective Sgt. Jeff Pilone said. "Murray refused to give consent to search the car, so a drug-sniffing dog from the Monmouth County Sheriff's Department was called in."

The dog was able to locate marijuana in the car and Murray was arrested and taken to police headquarters. Murray's car, a white Lincoln sedan was also seized as evidence, according to Detective Sgt. Pilone.

Officer Coleman and Detective Cruz obtained a search warrant and inspected the car and located 1 pound of marijuana and half ounce of cocaine in the trunk area. Detective Sgt. Pilone said the officers also found drug paraphernalia including a scale, baggies and a marijuana grinder.

Murray was charged with possession of a marijuana, cocaine, possession with intent to distribute both, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession within 1,000 feet of a school and 500 feet of a park.

Detective Sgt. Pilone said Murray was lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institute where his bail was set at $106,000.