When Asbury Police conducted the “Operation Dead End” sweep in February of 2014, one of the 31 men arrested was a police officer who had spent 16 years on the force. As a result of the sweep, 44 people were indicted on gang-related activity such as racketeering conspiracy, drug charges, weapon charges, robbery, and attempted murder.
As the testimonies from the gang members begin to come in, press coverage is limited in order to protect the identities of those who cooperate with the court.
Members of rival street gangs the “Bloods” and the “Crips” worked together in the Asbury Park area in drug distribution. They dealt heroin, Oxycontin, cocaine, and a form of ecstasy known as “molly”. They also worked with local pawn shop owners to sell off their stolen items. The gang members are also responsible for gun violence in the area, specifically a series of attempted murder cases going back and forth between rival gang members.
The investigation found police officer Keith German, 49, of Tinton Falls, helped gang members in exchange for aide in stalking a woman whom he was unsuccessfully trying to pursue. He allegedly abused the police records computer to get information about the warrants the members had. German now faces nine counts, two of which include unauthorized and improper use of computer database access and official misconduct. He was suspended from the police force without pay since his 2014 arrest.
The testimony also revealed the extent to which the gang’s young leaders, James Fair, 29, and Altyreek Leonard, 23, dictated orders to conduct shootings.
All persons are assumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
