"New Street Crimes Unit starts with a bang."

The Keansburg Police Department’s newly formed Street Crimes Unit, assisted by the Bayshore Narcotic’s Task Force, apprehended a dozen local residents and charged them with a range of complaints, including drug possession and aggravated assault.

Kevin Gumbs, 26, of the West Keansburg section of Hazlet, was arrested on the corner of Depot Street and Carr Avenue following a chase that involved the assault of three Bayshore Narcotics Task Force officers, leaving one of them injured.

An undercover officer bought crack cocaine from Gumbs, who punched the officer and attempted to escape in a vehicle before his arrest. During the pursuit, another officer was struck by a vehicle and was left with injuries to his lower back, arms and legs.

Gumbs, who was caught after a brief foot pursuit, was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance to an undercover officer, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a park zone, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute within 500 feet of of a park zone and three counts of aggravated assault. He was held in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Also arrested wasTimothy Smith, 31, of Highland Boulevard, who helped Gumbs sell drugs within the borough.

Smith was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, distributing a controlled dangerous substance to an undercover officer, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a school zone, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a park zone and conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $65,000 bail.

Also arrested were: Angela Baszak, 21, of Aberdeen on charges of possession of an imitation controlled dangerous substance and possession of an imitation controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute; Theresa Brown, 32, of Middletown, charged with attempting to purchase heroin; Shannan Johnson, 31, of Beachway, charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, attempting to purchase a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; Raymond Zalenty, 49, of Myrtle Avenue, charged with attempting to purchase a controlled dangerous; Robin Dingee, 42, of Creek Road, for attempting to purchase a controlled dangerous substance; Joseph Hynes, 46, of Woodland Lane on a $2,500 warrant issued by the borough court for failure to appear; Andrew Schacht, 35, of Francis Place on a Keyport warrant from a previous theft; John Alberti, 36, of Francis Place; Scott Conway, 31, of Birch Court on a borough-issued warrant for failure to appear in municipal court; Michael Klose, 31, of Carr Avenue on a borough-issued warrant for failure to appear in court and a warrant issued by the Monmouth County Family Court.

The NJNEOA congratulates the Keansburg Police Department and the Bayshore Narcotic’s Task Force for their cooperative efforts in narcotics enforcement.