Responding to Tips, Keansburg Police Arrest Two on Drug Charges

This article was updated with new information released in county court documents on May 27 

After receiving several calls on the Keansburg Dept. Tipline about suspected illegal drug activity, Keansburg Police set up surveillance on Lincoln Court and conducted a two-day investigation. 

On May 22, Keansburg Police arrested two people on charges of drug trafficking. 

Keansburg residents Denny Bowers, 39, of Lincoln Court and Serrina Battista, 24, of Church St. were arrested at 5:30 p.m. by the Department's Street Crimes Unit

Denny Bowers was charged with cocaine possession, possession of the illegal drug with the intent to distribute, distribution, conspiracy to distribute, distribution within 1,000 feet of the Joseph P. Caruso Elementary School and also 500 feet of a Friendship Park, possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of the school and also 500 feet of the park.  

Police say they witnessed him selling a plastic bag of suspected cocaine to a man identified in court papers as Robert Reilly for $100 on May 21. 

As of May 27, Bowers is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold on $130,000 bail.

Serrina Battista was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution, distribution within 1,000 feet of a school and 500 feet of a park. As of May 27, she is being held at the MCCI on $65,000 bail. 

Both Bowers and Battista are due to make an initial appearance in court on June 5. 

Keansburg Detectives Jason Lopez, Michael Deaney and Patrolman Christopher Rogan of the Street Crimes Unit were the investigating officers. 

The Keansburg Police confidential TIPLINE is (732) 787-0796. 

An arrest is not a conviction, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.