Suspected "Chop Shop" Leads to Arrest of Township Man

An investigation by the Howell Police Department and several other local, county and state agencies resulted in the arrest of a Vanderveer Road resident on a number of drug related charges.

Andrew McGowan, 48, faces several charges as a result of the arrest including possession of marijuana under 50 grams, second degree distribution of one half ounce of methamphetamine or greater, third degree of possession of methamphetamine, fourth degree possession of roxicet pills without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia including scales and packaging materials.

Detective Sgt. Eileen Dodd reported that on Aug. 10 the police department was called on by representatives from the Howell Housing Authority, Monmouth County Hazmat squad and Monmouth County Health Department for assistance at a house on Route 524. They had been called to the residence after reports of a trailer being parked on the property, according to Dodd. The residence also had a history of health code violations, Dodd said. McGowan is not listed as the owner of the property.

This trailer had water electricity going to it. Also on the property were abandoned cars with oil and other fluids leaking onto the ground, Dodd said. There was also evidence that things had been burned in the area near where containers of paint thinner were located. Lee Beaton, of the hazmat squad also located what were described as crates of license plates and other car parts. Further raising suspicions was the presence of a surveillance camera on the grounds. 

Putting all the evidence together, Dodd said the people on the property believed they had located a "chop shop," or "meth lab." Dodd said with this new information, assistance was also brought in from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's office and the new Jersey State Police Bomb Squad. 

It was then that McGowan came out of the trailer and allowed the officers to search the premises while admitting to living in the trailer. He also opened a safe and gave the police various narcotics he had been storing in there. Some of the items found during the search included different narcotics, some that were ready for distribution. They included pills, crystal meth, and marijuana according to Dodd. There was also a white powder which had not been identified as well as the drug paraphernalia.

In addition to the drug charges, Dodd said McGowan also faces charges including third degree maintaining a fortified structure at a narcotics distribution facility and possession of fireworks. The fireworks charges stem from officers finding black powder as well as commercial and consumer fireworks. Dodd said the powder was destroyed by the bomb squad on the site. 

He was taken to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution where he was being held on $15 thousand bail with a 10 percent option.