Police: Crack Cocaine and Christmas Day Drug Buy Result in Arrests

An alleged crack cocaine dealer and a Christmas Day prescription drug deal done near the buyer's children account for two recent drug arrests in West Deptford.

West Deptford Police made arrests last week in the two separate suspected drug distribution cases.

The first took place back on Dec. 25. At about 12:35 p.m., an out-of-town, off-duty police officer was in the Wawa parking lot on Crown Point Road when he observed what he thought was a hand-to-hand drug transaction taking place in a blue 2002 Volkswagen Passat parked next to him.

The off-duty officer observed a female enter the Passat on the passenger side. The officer saw a driver counting out pills and giving them to her from a bag. The two were observed exchanging money and the female then left the vehicle.

The witness called West Deptford Police, who responded to the scene. Police said the woman, 20-year-old Desiree C. Whittaker of Westville, surrendered 12 pills of Endocet, a prescription medicine used to relieve severe pain. Whittaker confirmed she bought the pills from the driver, police said.

Whittaker also had an adult passenger, 43-year-old Tabitha L. Phillips of Bellmawr, with her, along with her children in her vehicle. Whittaker was charged with possession of CDS and endangering the welfare of a child. She was released on a summons.

Phillips, meanwhile, was arrested for outstanding warrants in Oaklyn. She posted partial bail and was released.

On Jan. 7, police arrived at the home of the driver, 30-year-old Jonathan Corsey of National Park. He was arrested and charged with distribution of CDS, possession of CDS and possession of CDS with intent to distribute.

Corsey was processed by West Deptford Police and held in the Gloucester County Jail on $15,000 full cash bail. His vehicle has been seized by West Deptford Police pending asset forfeiture procedures.

In a separate incident on Jan. 9 around 3:30 p.m., West Deptford Police stopped a 1990 silver Volvo for a seat belt violation. The car pulled into the Rainbow Motel parking lot along Route 130.

After a brief investigation following the stop, officers found the driver, 49-year-old John W. Hunt Jr. of Wilmington, DE, had five bags of suspected crack cocaine on him, along with $300 in cash, police said. Hunt reportedly admitted to police that he was going to the motel to sell crack cocaine to a woman staying there.

Hunt was arrested and taken to police headquarters, where he was charged with possession of CDS and possession of CDS with intent to distribute. The police seized his vehicle along with the $300, pending asset forfeiture proceedings. The passenger of the vehicle was issued a summons for not wearing a seat belt and allowed to leave the scene.

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