Police Say Baby Slept on Cache of Heroin, Knives

In a raid on a house in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown suspected of drug activity, police say they came upon a 2-year old child sleeping on a bed with 100 bags of heroin, knives under the mattress and hypodermic needles within reach. 

William and Jenna Connett, both age 35 and living in a house on Main Street in Port Monmouth are facing a slew of charges stemming from the raid, including drug possession, drug distribution, unlawful possession of a weapon and child endangerment. Both are being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution on $315,000 bail each set by Monmouth County Judge Honora O'Brien Kilgannen. 

In an interview with APP.com, police spokesman Stephen Dollinger said the couple was making $10,000 a week selling heroin, and 17 officers were involved in the raid. 

Also arrested on May 28 was Wayne D. Battista, 38 of North Park Avenue in Hazlet, who is facing drug possession charges for being in possession of heroin packed in a straw. He is being held at the county jail on $10,000 bail.  

In the complaint signed by Middletown Det. Keith Hirschbein, William and Jenna Connett are both charged with being in possession of 117 bags of heroin, and having the intent to distribute it near Joseph Pacifico Park, a nearby park. They are also charged with possession of 8 Xanax pills, and conspiracy to distribute heroin in partnership with each other.

On the child neglect charge, police charge the couple with having the child sleep on a bed with 100 bags of heroin and knives located under the mattress and hypodermic needles there, and in the living room, within the child's reach. Both Connetts are charged with having two knives in his possession to protect the drug cache. 

The raid also turned up spoons and heroin wax and 16 hypodermic needles, say police. 

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.