Manalapan Man Charged with Car Theft and Drug Possession

Manalapan resident Thomas Price IV, 21, was arrested for allegedly stealing a car and being in possession of heroin, Xanax without a prescription, drug paraphernalia, and hypodermic syringes, according to .

While patrolling Union Hill Road on July 13, Manalapan Ptl. Bart Mattaliano saw a red Saturn SL1 which matched the description of a motor vehicle that was reported stolen the day before. Mattaliano and Ptl. Bryan Belardo pulled Price over in the Home Depot parking lot in Marlboro.

The 2002 Saturn SL1 was registered to 49-year-old Donna Price of Cooperhawk Drive in Manalapan. Price reported the car stolen on July 12 when she told police the car was taken from the roadway in front of her home sometime between 9 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.

Upon investigation, Mattaliano discovered a cigarette box containing heroin in the front left pocket of Price’s shorts and Xanax concealed in a green wrapper  in the front small pocket of his shirt, according to the arrest warrant issued by the Monmouth Prosecutor's Office.

Price was arrested and charged with theft of movable property, receiving stolen property, and two charges of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, according to the arrest warrant.

Price is lodged in Monmouth County Correctional Institute in default of $20,000 bail.