Crime & Safety

Cranford Police Arrest Garwood Man For Narcotics Distribution

A police investigation that included undercover surveillance resulted in multiple charges.

Following a two-month investigation into a series of unrelated crimes, detectives identified and arrested a Garwood man for narcotics distribution.

The investigation began in December of 2011 when Detective John Swandrak obtained information that identified a Garwood man as a person of interest in several property crimes that occurred within the township of Cranford. Investigators later determined that the same suspect was involved in the
distribution of illegal narcotics from his Locust Avenue residence.

A detailed investigation began which included undercover surveillance and intelligence gathering by detectives from the Cranford Police Investigative Division. The Garwood Police Department was briefed and cooperated in the investigation, which eventually led to the issuance of a search warrant by a Union County Superior Court Judge. On Feb. 2, members of the Cranford and Garwood Police Departments served that warrant.

Upon execution of the search warrant, more than a pound of suspected marijuana, along with packaging material and a small amount of suspected crack cocaine, was confiscated from the residence. The seized narcotics had an estimated street value of more than $7,000. Arrested in connection to this investigation was Christopher O’Reilly, 30, of Garwood.

He was charged with: possession of a controlled dangerous substance, a fourth degree crime; possession of a controlled dangerous substance, a third degree crime; distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance within 1,000 feet of a school (Washington Elementary School), both third degree crimes. O’Reilly was transported to the Union County Jail with bail set at $35,000.

Cranford Police Chief Eric G. Mason expressed satisfaction with the case.

“Inter-agency cooperation and the sharing of intelligence is a key factor in the success of this assignment,” he said. “Working together, Cranford and Garwood officers in this case removed an obvious threat to our mutual communities. I applaud the efforts put forth by these detectives and support their continued work to remove criminals from the neighborhoods where our children play and attend school.”

All charges against O’Reilly are pending in New Jersey Superior Court in Union County.

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