Drug Charges For Woman After Traffic Stop: Stafford Police

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — A West Creek woman is facing several drug-related charges after a Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit investigation that began with a motor vehicle stop in Manahawkin, police reported.

Police said the stop happened Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at about 8 p.m. in the area of East Bay Avenue and Route 9. During the investigation, detectives developed reasonable suspicion that Ashley E. Rose, 40, had controlled dangerous substances in a duffle bag she was carrying, according to the police statement.

Police reported that Detective Zach Wiatrowski deployed his narcotics detection K-9, Venus, for an exterior sniff of the bag. According to the department, the dog gave a positive indication for the odor of narcotics coming from the duffle bag. The bag was then seized while detectives sought a court-authorized search warrant, police said.

Rose was arrested on a charge of wandering or prowling to obtain or sell controlled dangerous substances, according to police. A search incident to arrest led to the discovery of a quantity of suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in her possession, the department reported.

Police said Rose was charged with possession of methamphetamine, a third-degree crime; possession of drug paraphernalia, a disorderly persons offense; failure to turn over a controlled dangerous substance to police, a disorderly persons offense; and wandering or prowling to obtain or sell controlled dangerous substances, also a disorderly persons offense. After processing at Stafford Township Police Headquarters, she was released on a summons pending a future court appearance in Ocean County Superior Court, according to the statement.

The investigation continued on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at about 9:30 a.m., when Drug Enforcement Unit members applied for and received a court-authorized search warrant for the seized duffle bag, police said. When detectives executed the warrant, they recovered additional quantities of suspected heroin/fentanyl and alprazolam, according to the department.

As a result, police said, Rose later turned herself in at Stafford Township Police Department headquarters and was additionally charged with possession of heroin/fentanyl and possession of alprazolam, both third-degree crimes. She was processed and released on a summons pending a future court appearance in Ocean County Superior Court, police reported.