Press staff 

Friday, May 14, 2010

What started as a reported robbery in a Wawa turned out to be a failed drug deal, police said.

On Thursday morning at about 8:15 a.m., the Middle Township Police Department responded to a call from Lawrence Walsh, 24, who is living in the Offshore Motel in Rio Grande. Walsh said he was robbed at the Rio Grande Wawa on Route 9.

By the time police responded, they learned that the suspect had fled in a cab.

However, further investigation revealed that Walsh had made arrangements with Thomas Michael Sexton, 23, of the Erma section of Lower Township, to purchase cocaine from Sexton at the Wawa, police said.

Instead, Sexton sold imitation drugs, specifically sheetrock, to Walsh, police said, and it was after he found out he had been sold imitation drugs that Walsh called the police. 

Both Sexton and Walsh were charged as a result of the incident. Sexton was charged with the distribution of imitation drugs, a third degree offense, and Walsh was charged with wandering in a public place to purchase drugs, a disorderly persons offense.

Both men were released on summonses.

Additional charges are pending, as the investigation is still ongoing.